A car burned out on the O’Neill Road on in Newtownabbey on Sunday night

FIVE teenagers have been arrested and charged after public disorder erupted in the O’Neill Road area of Newtownabbey on Sunday evening.

Police said trouble broke out after youths gathered at O’Neill Road around 8pm.

A number of cars were hijacked and set alight in the area, and stones and other missiles were thrown.

Newtownabbey councillor and local Rathfern Billy Ball witnessed the disturbance.

He said petrol bombs were also thrown at police and plastic bullets were fired in response.

However, police have denied that plastic bullets were fired during the disorder.

Councillor Ball added: “We need people to step back and for cool heads all round.

“There are other ways, violence is not the answer.”

Four males all aged 15 and an 18-year-old man, were detained on suspicion of riotous behaviour.

They were later charged and are due to appear in Belfast Magistrates’ Court.