A former police officer in his 50s has been arrested in Northern Ireland after wire was found tied between trees on a mountain biking route at Binevenagh Forest in Co Derry. It is believed that the man was arrested after video evidence was captured by a hidden camera at the scene. The man was questioned and then released on police bail pending further enquiries. The PSNI has appealed for anyone with information regarding the incident to come forward and warned mountain bikers using wooded areas to be vigilant in case wire has been put up at other locations.
Binevenagh Forest is one of the most popular locations for mountain biking in Northern Ireland, with a number of challenging routes through stunning scenery available for riders. Police received a report about the wire being tied between trees on 15 May 2023 and since then have been conducting robust enquiries into the incident. Many people have seen video footage of the ex-cop appearing to connect a length of wire to a tree before stretching and attaching it at chest height to a nearby tree. The footage was taken from a camera placed in the forest to monitor wildlife in the area.
Reporting in 2016 that similar wire had been placed along a mountain bike course in Kilbroney Park, Co Down, a PSNI spokesperson said: “This was an unbelievably dangerous thing to do. Whoever is responsible could have caused great injury to those participating.” In 2018, similar wire was found stretched tightly between trees at chest height at Cave Hill Country Park in Belfast. A few months earlier, trees had been placed on the bike route and a hole dug to throw cyclists off their bikes.
Chief Inspector, Sinead McIldowney, said police were appealing for anyone with information on the incident to come forward. Anyone who was in the area at the time and saw anything unusual or suspicious was encouraged to contact the PSNI on 101, quoting reference 1443 of 15/5/23. She also urged people using wooded areas for recreational purposes to be vigilant and to report anything unusual to the police.
Mountain biking enthusiasts have expressed their horror at the placing of wire across the trails. Commenting on social media, one rider said: “This isn’t like dragging a log across a trail or blocking with a few rocks. This is stringing a wire between two trees with no other purpose but to cause injury.” Enquiries into the recent incident are continuing, and the police warned mountain bikers and other people using wooded areas in the area to be cautious in case wire had been put up in other locations.
