Activists call on Belfast to say Yes over social homes

POLITICAL hoaxers the Yes Men were in Belfast yesterday in a bid to get social housing on the agenda.

Andy Bichlbaum, Jeff Walburn and Natalie Whiteman passed themselves off as directors of the firm behind Tribeca Belfast at two events to raise awareness of homelessness in the city.

They pretended to cancel the multi-million pound Castlebrooke Investments project saying it will be replaced by a Sunflower Village of 250 social homes.

Andy said: “There is £500million for social housing in Belfast and £400million of that goes to private landlords, £100million goes to building social housing and that’s a little bit of a travesty.”

A Castlebrooke Investments spokesperson said: “We are aware of a fake news release which has been issued today in relation to Sunflower Eco Village. This statement has not been issued by Castlebrooke Investments.”

A Belfast City Council spokeswoman added: “We are aware of a statement purporting to be from Belfast City Council in relation to Sunflower Eco Village. This statement is fake.”

Plans for Tribeca were approved by the council in January and will go ahead.

COURT Ms Mckee’s partner Sara Canning, right, in Derry yesterday SHOT DEAD Lyra Mckee CHARGED Paul Mcintyre

HOAXER Andy Bichlbaum