DUP and clergyman meet with police over ‘sectarian attacks’

DUP MLA William Humphrey was accompanied by councillor Dean McCullough and local clergyman Brian Madden to the meeting with PSNI North Belfast Area Commander, Chief Inspector Kelly Moore at Tennent Street Station.

The meeting followed an attack on a Tigers Bay man in North Queen Street by a group of men who, the delegation said, came across the interface from the New Lodge side on Monday afternoon this week.

William Humphrey said: “The PSNI has confirmed that this vicious attack is being treated as a sectarian hate crime against a Protestant male. Video footage shows at least four attackers surrounding the man and kicking him as he lay on the ground on the footpath.

“The PSNI has appealed for further evidence to be brought forward from anyone who may have captured this attack on their dashcam or otherwise, and we strongly echo that appeal.

“This was an appalling sectarian attack on a local man within his own community. A vehicle was also damaged during the incident. We urge anyone with any information which can assist the police to identify the perpetrators and to bring them to justice to pass that on.

“Duncairn Gardens, between the New Lodge and Tigers Bay, remains a very volatile interface. We have asked the PSNI to provide a timeline of sectarian incidents reported to them in this vicinity since the start of July.

”The PSNI tell us that they have increased patrols in the area. We would appeal for calm and for an end to these appalling attacks.”

Councillor Dean McCullough added: “There have been at least three vicious assaults upon people in Tigers Bay since the start of July, with at least one being hospitalised as a result. Petrol bombs have been thrown from New Lodge into Tigers Bay and there have been attacks upon houses at Halliday’s Road in Tigers Bay from across the interface.

“Clearly some people are making it their business to carry out these sectarian attacks and to increase inter-community tensions. These attacks must be condemned from across the community divide and we urge everyone to use their influence to bring them to an end.”