Cross-party condemnation of those responsible for security alert at East Belfast GAA

The security alert and police searches closed the Henry Jones Playing Fields in the Church Road area of Castlereagh from 8pm on Monday to 6pm tonight. Nearby Lough View Integrated Primary School was also forced to closed on Tuesday.

In a statement, East Belfast GAA, which uses the pitches, said its members were "disheartened" by the incident.

It said: "We, alongside many sports teams in east Belfast who share these pitches, have worked hard to revive these facilities for all members of the community and are saddened at those who threaten to disrupt the peace and cause alarm."

The club statement described the situation as "especially disappointing” – particularly as it follows a decision taken by Belfast City Council's (BCC) Strategic Policy and Resources Committee to reorganise the provision of pitches for local sports clubs in a way that allowed a designated pitch for GAA.

"This will be the first BCC GAA pitch in East Belfast and is long overdue,” the club said.

East Belfast DUP MP Gavin Robinson tweeted: “Sport cancelled. Community disrupted. School closed. For what? Catch a grip.”

Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie also condemned those responsible. On Twitter, he said: “This is wrong and must be condemned utterly.”

Alliance leader Naomi Long described the alert as “utterly unacceptable,” and added: “Everyone in East Belfast has a right to live, work, and play without intimidation or threat.”

SDLP councillor Séamas de Faoite said: “It is an utter disgrace that we are seeing another security alert at the Henry Jones playing fields."

At 6pm tonight the PSNI announced the alert had ended. Chief Inspector Rosemary Thompson said a thorough search of the playing fields had uncovered nothing untoward.

She appealed for anyone with information to contact police on 101 quoting ref 1953 of 22/05/23 or via Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 or http://crimestoppers-uk.org