Stormont cross-party statement calls for loyalist threat to be lifted and condemns sectarianism

» John Hedges

An Phoblacht Editor

‘Any threat to these families should be lifted immediately’

A JOINT STATEMENT has been issued on behalf of the leaders of the Democratic Unionist Party, Sinn Féin, the SDLP, the Ulster Unionist Party, the Alliance Party and the Green Party in response to a threat to residents in a shared housing programme in Belfast.

The statement condemns “all forms of sectarianism, intolerance and threats of violence”.

It follows threats by loyalist paramilitaries that have forced a number of Catholic families to flee their homes in the ‘Together Building United Communities’ programme in Cantrell Close.

The statement 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 affected families, including rehousing those affected if they feel unable to remain in their homes.

“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.”