A two-time Irish Olympic swimmer has told of her terror as she was confronted by masked men who attacked Larne Leisure Centre while she was coaching children.
Danielle Hill had arrived to take a coaching session at Larne Leisure Centre on Wednesday evening when she saw a crowd assembling.
"As I walked outside to move my car, four masked men walk around the corner," Danielle said.
"I've never experienced something like that and it scared me."
The 25-year-old decided to cancel her session and called the child protection officer to arrange the collection of the children.
Watch: Danielle Hill describes terror of situation in Larne
"I made my way back inside and it was time to leave. I said 'guys, I'm gonna have to go and please be wary, be vigilant'," she said.
"As I packed up my things and prepared to leave, just around this far corner, there was balaclaved men.
"I thought, OK, this isn't good and this is only going to get worse."
Ms Hill said she had been reassured on arrival that police were on the scene but they were quickly outnumbered and withdrew for a time before riot officers returned.
In the meantime, burning bins were brought into the foyer of the building and the flames spread. The glass front of the leisure centre was also smashed up.
Dozens of children were in the leisure centre, some as young as six.
"This is a place that kids enjoy coming to. There was no need for what happened last night and it was taken too far, unfortunately," Ms Hill said.
"There was some peaceful protest and I get that, but for the very few that decided to take it too far, it was too far.
"It could have ended very differently."
Ms Hill said she thought Northern Ireland had moved beyond violence and masked men, something she did not have any experience of growing up.
"We can't be back to square one...the violence last night was so unnecessary, it didn't achieve anything," she said.
"All I would ask is that it stopped."
Ms Hill said the focus should return to the core of the issue - the alleged sexual assault of a young girl and the wider issue of violence against women and girls.
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