Parade go-ahead would be ‘extremely inflammatory’ - SF Councillor

Sinn Féin Councillor Tierna Cunningham said she would be amazed if the Parades Commision allowed a loyal order parade to through a nationalist area next week.
Residents from Whitewell and Bawnmore joined Tierna and party MLA Carál Ní Chuilín in a meeting with the Parades Commission this week to outline their strict opposition to any such parade.
The parade has been lodged by the City of Belfast County Grand Black Chapter who want their one band and 140 participants to march on Friday August 1 along the route that begins at Cloughfern Protestant Hall and then travels along Doagh Road, Shore Road (passing the nationalist Bawnmore estate), under the bridge and onto the Whitewell Road before finishing at Greencastle Orange Hall at the bottom of the Whitewell Road just after 9pm.
Tierna Cunningham said she would be gobsmacked if the 11 Bar One application was approved.
“I would be seriously amazed if this was granted,” she said.
“If the Parades Commission are all about fostering good relations in the community they couldn't, in all good conscience give this march the green light.”
Fifteen years ago the Royal Black Perceptory took this route when many nationalist homes were attacked.
“This part of North Belfast and especially the Whitewell has gone from mainly mixed to mainly nationalist over the last 15 years. To parade here now would be extremely inflammatory.”
Sinn Féin will fight to retain Whitewell Library

Sinn Féin Tierna Cunningham said her party would be fighting to keep Whitewell Library open.
“As a party we support rationalisation as long as it's sensible but specifically regarding the closure of Whitewell Library I don't think it makes sense,” said Tierna.
“People from the Whitewell simply don't feel safe using the Grove and we will be fighting hard to make sure we get the service we deserve.”

Kelly calls for accept the offensive nature of her words

Calling on Mrs Robinson to accept the offensive nature of her words in her latest outburst on homosexuality, North Belfast Sinn Fein MLA Gerry Kelly said the gay community already suffered an intolerable degree of discrimination and attack.
“Iris Robinson's comments come on the back of several ill advised and poorly judge statements from a woman who is not only the wife of the First Minister but the chairperson of the Assembly Health Committee," he said.
"Her words undermine the sterling work of groups such as the Rainbow Project who were recently hosted in the Long Gallery Stormont.
"I accept that she has since retracted her words, but what we need to see now is a change in her attitude and an acceptance of the fact that these words and statements are deeply, deeply offensive and hurtful to members of the gay community and their families."

Lack of funding for this year’s New Lodge Festival was a complete mess - Ní Chuilín

North Belfast Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín said the .
Belfast Sinn Fein MLA Carál Ní Chuilín said festivals like the New Lodge should be given every support.
“These festivals were brought in to replace the violence we had around the anniversary of internment, it was about keeping the streets safe,” she said.
“But £77,000 for the whole city of Belfast is crazy. It’s just not enough. DCAL’s a complete mess. The DUP minister and the Civil Service have no understanding of what a community festival is.”
Festival organiser John O’Hagan said it would be back to basics for the New Lodge Festival.
“Due to the lack of money available for community festivals the New Lodge Festival Committee has this year been unable to secure funding to stage a programme of events as previous years,” said John.
“However we hope to take this opportunity to bring the festival back to basics. Back to the days when we had no funding the festival was always a huge success,” he said.

Margaret calls for derelict building to be dealt with

North Belfast Sinn Fein councillor Margaret McClenaghan has called on the Housing Executive (HE) to listen to the fears of residents living in the shadow of a derelict death-trap.
Margaret repeated her demands for housing bosses to demolish the building in the Farringdon area of Ardoyne.
Margaret said she fears children playing in the grounds will be injured or worse if and when it collapses.
Despite HE assurances that the property would be surveyed by a structural engineer, Margaret said technicalities were wasting precious time.
“It doesn't take an engineer to see the bungalow is a health and safety nightmare and it needs to be demolished,” said Margaret.
“If that house was demolished and two houses built in its place it would make residents' lives more bearable and at the same time provide vital housing for those on North Belfast's ever-increasing housing waiting list.”
Residents of the area had also been plagued by anti-social gangs drinking and partying in a privately-owned derelict house in the same street.
Although the landlord has boarded up the property on several occasions, the Republican representative said more needed to be done to bring the situation to a close.
“With these two vacant properties so close together it's an absolute nightmare situation for residents and I want to see something done to end all this,” said Margaret.
“Vacant houses have always been a recipe for disaster and when it starts to effect the quality of life of those around them we need to speak out.”

Lavery praises new lease of life for Kinnaird

North Belfast Sinn Fein councillor Danny Lavery said he is delighted that a string of derelict and rat infested houses in Kinnaird Street have been pulled down to make way for five new family homes.
“Sinn Féin has been lobbying to get these houses sorted for years,” said Danny.
“And I am pleased now that they've gone and will now be turned into much needed family homes.

Sinn Féin MLAs praise summer scheme success

North Belfast Sinn Féin MLAs Gerry Kelly and Carál Ní Chuilín have given their support to a summer scheme in the New Lodge aimed at encouraging local children to stay away from interface flashpoints.
Organised by Tar Isteach in Hillman Street, Sinn Féin councillor and youth worker Tierna Cunningham said the summer was shaping up really well despite the weather.
“We've been running now for nearly two weeks and it's been really good craic so far,” said Tierna.
“The kids work hard all year long with us and in school, and this is an opportunity for them to have fun. We took them to W5 the other day and we're going on a banana boat soon as well. And if the weather's dry we'll take them up Cave Hill. It’s all good fun with exercise thrown in, which is great.”
Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín said the Tar Isteach youth group has produced several successes already.
“They've been involved in graffiti removal schemes as well as anti-sectarian and anti-racism projects like the mural dedicated to Rosa Parks and another condemning attacks on our emergency services.
“It's about respect for themselves and respect for the community they come from. There are 2,500 young people under the age of 25 here in the New Lodge and it’s only a small minority involved at the interfaces. That's where diversionary programmes need to continue and need to be funded,” said Carál.

Kelly’s expresses shock at Young Offenders’ Centre report

North Belfast Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly has expressed his concern about a new report into conditions at Hydebank Young Offenders’ Centre, which this week revealed conditions there have deteriorated in the past two years.
Inspectors said conditions were worse than they had been following the last inspection, with juvenile prisoners reportedly spending 20 hours a day locked in their cells and being routinely strip-searched and unnecessarily handcuffed.
Former Republican POW Gerry said if punishment for young offenders had to be jail then conditions needed to be drastically improved.
“As a junior minister I have a special responsibility for children and young people and that is why I am all the more shocked and concerned by the findings of this new report,” said Gerry.
“There is a deep concern that educational and recreational facilities are under-used if young people are locked up for most of the day and I intend to get to the bottom of this.
“This situation is unacceptable and I will be demanding to know every single improvement that was supposedly carried out since the last inspection.
“This is a very vulnerable section of society we are talking about and there is no chance they can come out of Hydebank reformed if they are not given the proper facilities when inside.”