An attack on police in Derry as they investigated the death of a four-year-old girl in a road accident was roundly condemned tonight.
Officers came under a sustained attack from a gang of stone-throwers late last night as they probed the accident in which Ciara McLaughlin died on the Creggan Link Road.
It was the latest in a series of attacks on the emergency services in the city as they carried out routine duties on behalf of the community.
Condemning the attack the DUP's Gregory Campbell said there appeared to be a worrying culture of attacks on the emergency services emerging in the city.
"It's absurd and hopefully people who have influence in the community will use it to ensure this stops," said the DUP MP.
"There seems to be a problem of attacks on the emergency services in the North West for some reason, ambulance crews, the fire service and police have all been attacked recently - a police woman tending the victim of an attack in the city last week was herself attacked."
The child, from Cashelmore Park in the city died in hospital after being fatally injured when she was struck by a car as she walked near her home.
Police said a group of up to 30 youths threw missiles at officers for about an hour while the accident was being investigated.
A spokesman said not only uniformed officers but mappers and photographers, had to go to the scene of such accidents. "They are only trying to do their job, people have to respect that," he said.
Condemning the attack Inspector Roy Flood added: "The investigation that we have to do on behalf of the coroner is designed for the family, so that they know exactly what took place."
Local priest Father Michael Canny, who visited the devastated girl's family, also hit out at the stone-throwing.
"It has no place in our society," he said.
"These people perhaps weren't aware of what had happened, but even so, they shouldn't be stoning anybody."
PA