22 January 1998 Edition
Residents against `Peacewall'
Residents of Whitewell Road in North Belfast staged a demonstration in the area on Saturday 17 January demanding equal rights.
The residents condemned last week's announcement by the NIO that it is to fund a 40 ft `peacewall' to run behind Serpentine Gardens and the loyalist White City. The residents are angry that the NIO decision was made in response to loyalist demands and RUC recommendations without consultation with the nationalist community.
The protesters also criticised the RUC for its brutality against them during a protest last Tuesday.
Over a hundred residents from the tiny embattled nationalist community and local Sinn Fein Councillors Danny Lavery and Mick Conlon joined the protest.
Talking to An Phoblacht, Danny Lavery said, ``the peacewall will devalue Catholic homes and will not bring peace because loyalists still have access to the area via the Whitewell Road.'' Lavery also accused the RUC and British Army of heavy-handedness in their policing of the peaceful protest, ``displaying plastic bullet guns'' throughout. He said the NIO was quick to fund this wall despite the fact that it had recently rejected a claim for traffic calming measures from Sinn Fein, citing ``lack of funds''.
The nationalist residents believe that the proposed wall will not protect them and say their community has been under constant attack by loyalists since last summer in particular.
One woman told An Phoblacht that leading loyalists from Tiger's Bay are behind the campaign of violence with numerous attacks on homes and three serious attacks on the home of a 72 year old pensioner which has driven her out.
Loyalists have also issued threats against families and businesses in the area telling them, ``to get out or be carried out''.
Meanwhile An Phoblacht has been told that UDP representative Tommy English from Tiger's Bay, who is currently on bail accused of a vicious punishment beating, is set to meet British security minister Adam Ingram to discuss the situation at the Whitewell Road.
The residents condemned last week's announcement by the NIO that it is to fund a 40 ft `peacewall' to run behind Serpentine Gardens and the loyalist White City. The residents are angry that the NIO decision was made in response to loyalist demands and RUC recommendations without consultation with the nationalist community.
The protesters also criticised the RUC for its brutality against them during a protest last Tuesday.
Over a hundred residents from the tiny embattled nationalist community and local Sinn Fein Councillors Danny Lavery and Mick Conlon joined the protest.
Talking to An Phoblacht, Danny Lavery said, ``the peacewall will devalue Catholic homes and will not bring peace because loyalists still have access to the area via the Whitewell Road.'' Lavery also accused the RUC and British Army of heavy-handedness in their policing of the peaceful protest, ``displaying plastic bullet guns'' throughout. He said the NIO was quick to fund this wall despite the fact that it had recently rejected a claim for traffic calming measures from Sinn Fein, citing ``lack of funds''.
The nationalist residents believe that the proposed wall will not protect them and say their community has been under constant attack by loyalists since last summer in particular.
One woman told An Phoblacht that leading loyalists from Tiger's Bay are behind the campaign of violence with numerous attacks on homes and three serious attacks on the home of a 72 year old pensioner which has driven her out.
Loyalists have also issued threats against families and businesses in the area telling them, ``to get out or be carried out''.
Meanwhile An Phoblacht has been told that UDP representative Tommy English from Tiger's Bay, who is currently on bail accused of a vicious punishment beating, is set to meet British security minister Adam Ingram to discuss the situation at the Whitewell Road.