Party leaders unite in call for an end to threats against Catholic families

IN a rare show of unity, six Northern Ireland party leaders have called for the lifting of threats against Catholic families in Belfast.

Loyalist paramilitaries have been blamed for intimidation at a mixed housing development.

The DUP, Sinn Fein, the SDLP, the UUP, the Alliance Party and the Green Party united in condemnation of sectarian intolerance and threatened violence.

A joint statement from the political leaders said: “Four families have been forced to leave their homes in South Belfast. This is wrong. Any threat to these families should be lifted immediately.

“There is also an onus on the PSNI and the statutory agencies to provide immediate and appropriate support to the affect- ed families, including re-housing those affected if they feel unable to remain in their homes.”

Cantrell Close, off the Ravenhill Road in the south of the city, was supposed to be a flagship cross-community development as part of the Stormont Executive’s ‘Together: Building United Communities’ programme.

The statement added: “This situation runs absolutely contrary to the ethos under which the Cantrell Close development was created. Everyone has the right to live in a society without fear of intimidation and free from sectarianism.

“Those behind this threat offer nothing but hatred and division and should be condemned by all political, community and statutory leaders.”

Some Assembly members have blamed the UVF.

The development was hit with another controversy in the summer when loyalist paramilitary flags were erected on lamp-posts.

Yesterday, a pregnant mother-of-one described how police came to her door in the dead of night to tell her there was a threat against her because she was a Catholic and she should leave her home, before leaving themselves.

Police have said they will learn from how they deal with handling threats against people, but said political representatives and community leaders needed to “get their heads” together to help tackle the matter.

The officers told Jodie they did not know who it had come from but she was convinced it was either the UVF or another paramilitary group.

“I’m still unaware of why I had to leave my home, I am still unaware of why I have to drag about my son looking for a home,” she told the BBC Stephen Nolan show.

“We don’t deserve this, I fought hard for the house — I just want a home and a safe place for my son. Everything was going well and then a year on we are out on the street.”

Asked if police said they would protect her son, she said no, adding: “They just walked away and left me to it and went back to their own lives.”

The political statement came after a Sinn Fein delegation met senior PSNI officers yesterday.

Sinn Fein South Belfast MLA Mairtin O Muilleoir has repeatedly stated that the UVF was behind the threats.

Afterwards, the PSNI said they confirmed to Sinn Fein an “active investigation is ongoing and while paramilitary involvement is a strong line of enquiry, we remain focused on gathering information and evidence to put those responsible for this abhorrent and unacceptable behaviour before the courts”.

Mr O Muilleoir called for those families targeted to get the additional support they need.

“It remains our view that the organisation responsible is the East Belfast UVF,” he said.

“Some of those threatened are still in their homes, five days after police officers visited them in the middle of the night to warn of the threat against them, and there has been a lack of information regarding what is being done to assist them.”

Chief Superintendent Chris Noble said: “We will continue to work with partners in the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and Housing Association to support those families affected by this cowardly act of intimidation.”

Visit: Jonathan Powell