Families barricading themselves in homes after racist attacks, says area's MP

By Jonathan McCambridge, PA

Some families are barricading themselves in their homes in north Belfast after recent racist attacks, the area’s MP has said.

John Finucane was speaking after a multi-agency meeting to discuss measures to help those affected after a number of houses were attacked in racially motivated crimes in the Lower Oldpark area.

The meeting was attended by politicians, police, the Housing Executive, housing associations, community groups, Belfast City Council and some local residents.

Mr Finucane said: “After racist attacks in the constituency in the past number of days and weeks, which comes on the heels of some very brutal and sustained sectarian attacks and intimidation, I convened a multi-agency meeting this morning which included political representatives as well as the statutory agencies.

“It was important to address the immediate steps that can be taken to address help and assistance to those families that have been attacked, those families that have been intimidated.

“But also it is important to note that those families who are out there seeing what is happening in north Belfast and also feeling particularly vulnerable, we heard from those and about those families in the meeting.

“I am pleased to say there are a number of practical steps which will be taken in the coming hours and days which will provide assistance to some families.”

He added: “The fact that we have families that are barricading themselves into their own homes to provide some level of comfort and security is something that should shame and bring focus to all of us.”

Alliance Party MLA Nuala McAllister said it had been a constructive meeting.

She said: “It is important to condemn any threats or violence to homes no matter where they are, or what community they are in.

“It is quite clear from what we heard of what has been going on in the community that there is lot of work behind the scenes and the vast majority of people in north Belfast want to live peacefully and together amongst their neighbours.

“Unfortunately there is a small number of people, some of them not within the immediate area, that are making people’s lives miserable.”

The PSNI said officers are investigating racially motivated criminal damage on three houses in the Manor Street and Summerhill Court areas of north Belfast last week.

Police figures released last week indicated there were 2,049 race incidents and 1,329 race crimes in Northern Ireland in the 12 months to June 30.

These are the highest figures since such data began to be collated and reported by the PSNI in 2004-05.