Workers Party Representative For Derry City Peter McGuire has described the increase of young people engaging in sectarian violence as deeply concerning and fears that in will become worse .
Mr McGuire said with the holidays approaching the situation will become worse, just recently sectarian graffiti has been sprayed on premises, fights have been organised on social media. There was a serious sectarian attack on young Protestants on Foyle Street who were going home, and up to forty loyalist youth attempted to enter a predominantly Catholic estate and were stopped by the PSNI. There are ongoing threats to individuals and properties on social media. All of these will escalate on the run-up to parades and bonfires. There can be no justification for any of these actions .
Mr McGuire said all those civic, political, and community leaders must organise a collective response to these actions and that the Workers Party is willing to play its part. The workers Party is calling on all statutory agencies to put all the necessary resources required to deal with these outbreaks of orchestrated violence. The people of Derry have and are suffering enough problems without having the spectre of sectarian violence once again rearing its ugly head.
Parents should not have returned to the days when they worried about their children getting home safely, they should not have to worry about their families who may live in these areas that come under attack. The other most worrying aspect of this behaviour is that sectarianism is still a feature and keeps bubbling to the surface at the least opportunity.
Mr McGuire finished by saying there must be an end to these attacks and prearranged fights, and an immediate reversal of any cuts to youth work street schemes that can play a significant role in countering this trend of violence. The nettle of sectarianism must be grasped and dealt with not by lip service, but by leadership from our political institutions.