'It got really scary, really quickly!'

Derry City Football Club is in the process of compiling a report for both the FAI and Shamrock Rovers in the wake of disturbances during and after the game at the Brandywell last Friday night.

The PSNI is also conducting its own investigation, after they were called to intervene in clashes between groups in the Anne Street car park immediately after the game.

It is understood that inside the ground, over 20 seats in Block B, where Rovers fans were situated, were damaged during the game, while videos online also show security trying to de-escalate potential clashes between supporters. 

But it was events outside the ground after the game which caused a police presence at the Brandywell, with a number of cars being damaged and individuals assaulted. Derry City fan, Grainne McAnee, eyewitness to one particularly disturbing attack, described the scene which unfolded in front of her as ‘horrific’.

“I was parked in the public car park, which was part of the Brandywell and the traffic had all stopped and wasn’t moving,” she recalled.

“I was a wee bit surprised when Shamrock Rovers fans came around the corner. They were just getting on the buses when I noticed wee shadows coming down through the cars near me. Then things began getting hurled, and the young fellas throwing the stuff didn’t care if they were hitting Derry City fans or Shamrock Rovers fans.

“I was in shock a bit, and then it just got really scary, really quickly, because I felt really trapped. Then what happened, was, one of the young fellas, a teenager, got caught by Shamrock Rovers fans, and they just started kicking him. They had him on the ground very quickly, and he was lying in the foetal position, and this ever-growing swarm of grown men were just kicking every part of his body. That was the most horrifying thing for me.

“It was the fact that there were so many people in the car park, including families. I don’t know how long I was sitting in the car, just staring at this young fella getting every part of his body kicked in, thinking ‘Should I get out of the car to help him? Somebody has to do something about this.’

“I was just watching on in horror, and all of a sudden there was a lot of security there, but to be honest, that did absolutely nothing to calm the situation.”

When contacted by the Derry News, a spokesperson for Derry City FC insisted that the club is taking the incidents seriously and will send a detailed report to both the FAI and Shamrock Rovers. 

‘Not football fans’

While the PSNI moved to de-escalate the trouble quickly, the incidents took attention off a highly-anticipated and competitive game at the top of the Premier Division.

“I don’t think the people who came in were Derry City fans or any kind of fans at all, they were just there to cause bother,” Grainne continued. “The situation only really calmed down when the PSNI arrived.

“I have to say I was really, really shocked. I really object to the suggestion that it was minor disturbances. I know they don’t want to give people who cause disturbances any spotlight, but I love my football team, and I love the Brandywell and I don’t want anybody to have an experience like that ever again. I don’t know why the Shamrock Rovers buses weren’t parked in the secure car park or why they didn’t wait until, the car park was cleared to stop the young fellas coming in. It’s not football fans doing that, it’s people out for bother.

“For me, going to the Brandywell is a really wholesome, family activity. There is a really great sense of community there, but I was really shocked, and I carried what I saw, really over the weekend. It’s not what we want to be happening in the Brandywell.”

A statement from the PSNI read:

“Police are investigating a disturbance following a football match in the Lone Moor Road area of Derry/Londonderry on Friday evening, 15th September.

“Officers intervened, and quickly de-escalated a minor disturbance between a number of opposing football fans in a car park outside the stadium following the match.

“There have been no reports of injury, at this time, or damage to property.

“Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 quoting reference number 527 15/09/23.”