uuptoday.org

Ulster Unionist Assembly Member for Mid-Ulster, Billy Armstrong has expressed his shock on learning of the sexual assault of a teenage girl in Magherafelt last weekend and appeals for information to be given to the PSNI.

Billy said, “PSNI reports say that a teenage girl was subjected to a serious sexual assault in Magherafelt over a week ago. This act is indefensible! The trauma that this girl has gone through and, I’m sure, is still going through must be horrendous.

“I understand that the police are still looking for the man in question who is in his late teens/early twenties and drives a red car.  I would appeal to everyone who has any information to come forward to the PSNI immediately.  It is apparent that another male left the car when this girl got in and if this man does not come forward to the police he is withholding information and effectively breaking the law in doing so.

“This man must be brought before the court of law and dealt with appropriately as there is absolutely no justification for such a despicable act!”

“This is an extremely worrying incident and I know that the people of Magherafelt the surrounding area are in a state of shock.”

Ulster Unionist Party Leader Sir Reg Empey, speaking as power was devolved to Stormont today set out his plan to offer a real alternative to the DUP/Sinn Fein Axis in the months ahead.

In a statement Sir Reg said,

“The UUP believes that the union offers the most progressive constitutional, social and economic future for every region of the United Kingdom – and for all of us in Northern Ireland. We are delighted therefore that after years of stalemate and false starts, the people of Northern Ireland now have a government of their own.

The mission of the Ulster Unionist Party in the months and years ahead, as we rebuild and reform, is to demonstrate that unionism and politics in general is not about a sectarian power-grab.

We intend to work with other parties of the centre to offer an alternative to the Sinn Fein/DUP axis; an axis built around carve-up and party political self-interest.  It will not be in the long term interests of Northern Ireland to sustain an arrangement of this sort. I think voters in future will want a choice based on social and economic issues – in short normal politics in Northern Ireland. In future Administrations parties of a like mind can, and I’m sure will, offer alternative coalitions.

We will be using our position in the Executive and the Assembly to put Northern Ireland first. With 55% of the total Stormont budget in our two Departments, we now have a unique opportunity.

We must bring government closer to the people of Northern Ireland, making government better serve the people of Northern Ireland. Making the Union work for all of us in Northern Ireland and making the UUP a real centre ground alternative to what is currently on offer”.