(Thursday, August 31) Besieged residents to demand protection
A group of under-siege Protestant residents living on a north Belfast interface will meet police chiefs tonight to demand more protection from republican mobs.
Families living in Leopold Street, which backs onto Ardoyne area, say they've been subjected to a "five-week barrage" by youths throwing bottles, stones and concrete blocks at their homes.
In what has now become an almost nightly occurrence, vandals gather at a security gate leading onto nearby Flax Street and hurl projectiles at the houses.
Janice Bell, who lives in the street with her husband, said the summer has been a living nightmare.
"We have been under attack for five solid weeks now," said the 46-year-old.
"They just appear at the gate at the bottom of Flax Street and bombard us with bits of metal, concrete blocks and bottles.
"It happens at all times of day and night. Last Friday they attacked at 12.30 in afternoon, on Saturday it was 5.30 in the evening. And two weeks ago it was a four-hour barrage through the night.
"It's very, very frightening. I can't get to sleep at night, you don't know if next time it's going to be a petrol bomb."
DUP councillor for the area William Humphrey will accompany the residents' delegation to meet PSNI north Belfast DCU commander Gary White tonight.
He says more needs to be done to protect the area: "These people are living in fear to leave their own homes, this has to be stopped.
"As far as I'm concerned these are orchestrated attacks carried out by republican youths.
"There have been attacks throughout the constituency over the summer and in recent weeks there's been a concentrated campaign against Leopold Street.
"We are asking the police to patrol the area more regularly so this can be stamped out. The police have to provide security to allow these people to live in peace.
"These people are just trying to live normal lives and are being prevented from doing so by thugs."
Chief Superintendent White has tried to assure residents that the PSNI is committed to tackling the issue.
"Officers take this type of behaviour very seriously and will deal robustly with those who break the law," he said.
"The area will continue to be monitored. However, this is not an issue that can be resolved by policing alone, and officers within the DCU are keen to meet with the local community and other agencies to work together to find a solution."
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Weather for Belfast
Monday 13 February 2012
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