Threats to community groups are contemptible - Kelly

North Belfast Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly has slammed the threats made by Continuity IRA against community groups working with statutory bodies in North Belfast.
Speaking a short while after the threats were made to Ashton Centre in the New Lodge and Wolfhill Community Centre in Ligoniel Gerry Kelly the threats are against the entire community.
"The threats are apparently in relation to the community sector in north Belfast holding multi-agency meetings in order to address pressing issues facing local people,” said Gerry Kelly.
“To have these threats made against them while they are working hard to improve the quality of life for people living in these neighbourhoods is contemptible.
“In short, these groups are now threatening the entire community. These community centres are at the heart of the localities they work in, and offer services that people of all ages and from all sections of the community use.
“They are well established and have on their premises facilities such as crèches, mother and toddler groups, after school clubs and senior citizen groups. Is there anyone who isn't on the target list?
“These threats must be lifted immediately. Those who have made them have no support whatsoever and these threats highlight what we already know, that these groups have no logical political direction or programme,” said the North Belfast MLA.
Community groups from throughout Belfast came together the Friday after the threats were issued in a show of solidarity with those threatened and in a call for the threats to be lifted.
At the meeting in the UNISON building on York Street, JJ Magee called for the immediate withdrawal of the threats.
“The Ashton was driven forward at a time when there was systematic British government denial of opportunity and resources into our community. We however did something about it,” said Magee.
“The Ashton building was financed through a community share scheme, it is owned by the community. We have struggled to access resources while also standing firm against all forms of injustice, coercion and discrimination.
“The Ashton Centre provides services right across the North Belfast community from Whitewell to Ardoyne and from New Lodge to Mount Vernon.
“Presently the Ashton Centre employs over 100 people and provides childcare places for hundreds of young children. This facilitates parents to return to work.
“Ashton also works with victims and the long-term unemployed while also providing educational pathways for thousands of people and contributes significantly to the local economy. On behalf of the Board I want to pay tribute to all our staff and all those community workers who refuse to be deflected from their services to our community at this difficult and challenging time for them and their families.
“Their courage is an inspiration to us all. The Ashton vision stands in marked contrast to the vision of the faceless people who have issued this threat,” said the Ashton Centre representative.
“Ashton will not be detracted from our mission of serving all communities. I stand here today to bring my voice and the voice of the Ashton Community Trust demanding that the Continuity IRA immediately and unconditionally withdraw this threat.”