Second man arrested after slurry spread on road before first Ballymena Pride parade

By Cate McCurry, PA

A second man has been arrested after slurry was sprayed on a road in Ballymena, hours before the town hosted its first Pride parade.

Officers said they arrested a 20-year-old man on Sunday on suspicion of criminal damage, aiding and abetting criminal damage and causing material to be deposited on a road.

He remains in custody and the matter is being treated as a hate crime.

I despair the mentality of those who spread slurry on the streets of their town motivated by hate and bigotry. Disgusting in every sense of the word.

Solidarity to all at Ballymena Pride. It's a frightening time but love will always triumph over hate. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍🩷🩵

— Naomi Long MLA (@naomi_long) June 28, 2025

A 19-year-old man will appear in court on Monday charged in connection with the same incident.

The arrests were made after officers on patrol in the Granville Drive area saw slurry on the road at about 2.55am on Saturday.

The North’s Minister for Justice, Naomi Long, said: “I despair the mentality of those who spread slurry on the streets of their town motivated by hate and bigotry. Disgusting in every sense of the word.

“Solidarity to all at Ballymena Pride. It’s a frightening time but love will always triumph over hate.”