Sinn Féin calls for vigilance after gun incident

North Belfast Sinn Féin Councillor Danny Lavery called on Belfast City Council to act after a nationalist council employee had a gun put to his head as he walked to work at the Council’s Duncrue Street cleansing depot.
The man was subjected to a torrent of sectarian abuse before having a gun put to his head.
Sinn Féin Councillor Danny Lavery said he had been hounding the Council to put in place temporary arrangements to facilitate nationalist council workers in sensitive areas over the summer months.
“This innocent man was simply going about his business trying to earn a day's wages when he was subjected to this despicable act of intimidation in broad daylight,” said Danny.
“Nationalist Council workers have reported feeling very intimidated in certain areas over the last number of weeks and the issue of alternative short-term arrangements has been raised several times, yet still nothing concrete has been put in place.
“It shouldn't need an incident like this to kick Council officers into action and I have been on to the Council this week to try to get something sorted immediately until these sensitive few months have passed.
“Facilitation is not being pushed hard enough and I want to see action taken immediately.”
Party colleague and North Belfast Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly urged the Council to be as flexible as possible in facilitating nationalist workers in the coming weeks.
“At this time of year when tensions are raised I would urge all agencies to be as flexible as possible and make special arrangements where necessary to avoid heightening tensions,” said the MLA.
“There is no political support for this type of activity and there is no support in North Belfast for anyone who is trying to take us back in time.
“What is needed here is vigilance and I would ask everyone to look out for one another because there is no room for complacency,” said Gerry.

Lavery condemns arson attack
Danny Lavery has also condemned an arson attack on the home of an elderly couple, which took place in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Police said the man and woman were unhurt but were left badly shaken after the blaze broke out at their Brookvale Avenue home.
It was revealed this week that 40 per cent of the Fire and Rescue Service’s entire budget is spent on dealing with malicious fires – Cllr Lavery said it was disgrace that money was being wasted in this way.
“These firebugs and arsonists are using up precious resources in the Fire Service's budget which is, like that of most other agencies, already stretched. This arson attack in Brookvale is the latest in a very long line of distressing incidents right across North Belfast and they need to be stopped,” said Danny.