North Belfast Sinn Féin activist and community worker Gerry O’Reilly received a the backing of residents and community workers from throughout North Belfast after his New Lodge home was attacked for the seventh time in the past year.
Residents, republicans and community leaders from both sides of the community came together at a vigil in support of a North Belfast interface worker just days after criminal thugs smashed windows in his New Lodge home.
Gerry works alongside Protestant community groups from across the interface and the PSNI to enhance community safety and the Sinn Féin activist has also taken a strong stance against drug use in the area.
The republican activist dubbed the latest attackers of his home as ‘criminal thugs’.
"This is a sad reflection that a small number of people are intent on attacking the homes of community workers in the area," said the former Republican POW.
"I realise I am to the fore in relation to community safety in the area but my work is about bringing a better quality of life for the people who live here.
"The people who attack homes in the dark of the night are criminal thugs. If they want to speak with me and debate with me on any issue they only have to come to me. To attack someone's home is cowardly. These people are faceless, they have no support.
"I just want to thank everyone in the community who has supported me and called to the house to let us know how they feel about it. My family and I are very grateful."
Local Sinn Féin councillor Conor Maskey spoke at the vigil in support of Gerry and his family as did New Lodge housing campaigner Liam Wiggins and Paul Roberts Chief Executive of the Ashton Community Trust.
The community groups including Intercomm, the Ashton Community Trust, North Belfast Community Development Group which is based on the York Road, New Lodge Safer Streets, New Lodge Neighbourhood Watch, New Lodge Housing Forum and community groups in the Cliftonville and Ardoyne all stood behind the community worker.
No comments:
Post a Comment