7 May 1998 Edition

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New NIO `peace' wall fails first test.

Nationalists from the beseiged Whitewell Road area on the outskirts of North Belfast have bitterly condemmed a series of loyalists attacks last weekend and placed the blame for them at the heads of the Northern Ireland Office.

Just last month, despite numerous protests at RUC/NIO plans to erect a 150 metre barrier wall beside Serpentine Gardens and the White City housing estate, the wall was built. It now dominates the rear of nationalist homes cutting out natural light while continuing sectarian attacks prove what local residents knew all along. As local Sinn Fein councillor Danny Lavery pointed many loyalist attacks take place in the Greymount area at the bottom of the Whitewell Road, on the edge of the wall, a fact he had consistently pointed out to British government officials. Last Friday Greymount came under attack by a 50 strong mob who came from the loyalist Shore Crescent area. Attacks continued over the weekend resulting in damage to cars and homes.


An Phoblacht
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