A Sinn Féin councillor for the Dungannon and South Tyrone area has urged the public to refrain from spreading misinformation and from using “inflammatory language” following the death of a man in the Lisnahull area yesterday evening.
Police had been called to reports of a serious incident shortly after 8pm yesterday evening (Thursday). They confirmed later that a man had passed away from injuries resulting from a serious assault.
During the time emergency services were dealing with the incident and in the hours that followed a number of individuals have been named by members of the public as responsible for the attack on social media.
Councillor Deirdre Varsani said that she understood the public were “very concerned” and “upset” but stressed the importance of sticking to the facts and allowing the emergency services time to make their own official announcements.
Describing the community in the Lisnahull area as particualry “tight-knit” the councillor is aware that people have “unnerved” by an incident of this nature happening so close to their homes.
Of the rumours circulating on social media in the wake of the man’s death, the councillor said: “It is so unhelpful when people put out information that is inflammatory or using language that encourages people to feel even more fear.
Related: Police confirm man has died following ‘serious assault’ in Dungannon
“I think what you need to stick to is the basic facts, you need to stick to information like which areas are sealed off, how you can assist, how to stay calm and not to repeat rumours because we are aware of instances on social media even last night.
“There were names being bandied about and they were not the correct names and that is just extremely worrying behaviour because that just adds to the difficulties of these types of challenging situations.
“I know it’s difficult and I know people do get upset and excited – and excited as in terms of nervous – but still what we would appeal to people to do is stick to the facts really until it is confirmed by emergency services.
“You can’t really repeat any information relating to any people who might be involved or the particular type of incidents.
“We were told from early on it was serious and that is the line we have stuck to until it is fully confirmed by the emergency services, particularly police.”
