24 April 1997 Edition

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Catholics forced off site

THREE YOUNG WEST BELFAST CATHOLICS were ordered off a building site in the loyalist Sandy Row area of Belfast on Monday 21 April.

According to Sinn Fein's Michael Ferguson one of the young men had spent some time in jail for failing to pay a fine and a loyalist recognised him from prison and gathered an eight strong gang.

``The gang gathered around the two youngest lads, who are 18 and 19 and told them to get out of the area. The third fellow who spotted the loyalist went for their car so they could get out as quickly as they could'', said Ferguson.

The men had been working on the site for some time.

According to Ferguson the loyalist gang then told the site foreman that no Catholics would be allowed on the site, ``unless you pay up''.

An Phoblacht
44 Parnell Sq.
Dublin 1
Ireland