Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Anger as Holy Cross school kerbs painted
Fury over ‘intimidating graffiti’
CONCERNS have been raised after fresh red, white and blue paint appeared on kerbstones outside a girls’ school.
The letters “LA” have also been daubed at the entrance into Holy Cross Primary in Ardoyne, North Belfast. Some in the area have suggested this means “Loyalist Ardoyne”. Local SDLP councillor Paul Mccusker said there is “a lot of anger” following the development. In 2001 the school was at the centre of an infamous stand-off when it was blockaded by loyalists. Schoolgirls needed a police escort to move from the nationalist end of the district to the building which sits at the unionist side. Mr Mccusker added: “There’s been so much good work in the area over the past 16 years since the problems at Holy Cross – work at community relations, at promoting the idea of shared spaces. “But for this to happen, especially with the school open, is very worrying. “If it was green, white and orange being painted outside a school I’d be the first person out and calling for it to be removed. “And the letters LA right at the school gate, it’s just very intimidating for people. “I would call on unionism to step up here and show some leadership.” The issue has also been raised on the Greater Ardoyne Residents Collective Facebook page. There had been no statement from the DUP on the matter last night. But in a tweet, unionist political activist Dale Pankhurst said during the marching season “many unionist communities rightfully engage in cultural expression”, which includes the painting of kerbstones. He added the activity at the minute comes against a backdrop of “cultural warfare” by Sinn Fein. Mr Pankhurst accused GARC of trying to “heighten tension” by calling for statutory agencies to remove the paint. He said the “authorities entering into unionist heartlands to remove anything that can be connected with Britishness” would “inevitably damage community relations”. One loyalist activist said the kerbs are repainted red, white and blue every year. The PSNI said enquiries into the reports “are ongoing”.
FRESH paint on the kerbs outside Holy Cross Girls’ Primary School is a worrying development.
We should hope, and believe, cool heads will prevail and nothing more will come of this. There appears to be a fragility in the politics of Northern Ireland at the minute. Issues regarded as cultural, whether it be flags and bonfires, or demands for an Irish Language Act, are creating a them and us scenario. It may well sound glib, but it is at times like these we need political leadership. With a strong and stable society, we are all in a better position to address those tensions before they manifest themselves in potentially problematic ways.