Divisions within the DUP about the approach to MLA expenses claims – Ní Chuilín

Commenting after the DUP removed from the Assembly Commission Stephen Moutray the MLA who had negotiated and agreed with all the other parties a new transparent expenses regime in Stormont which would have seen cuts in the claims of individual MLAs before the rest of the DUP party blocked the new system, Sinn Féin Assembly member Carál Ní Chuilín said;

“In the wake of the DUP Assembly members failure to back a new expenses regime which would have seen a reduction in expenses for individual MLAs and greater transparency in the system, they have now removed their representative on the Assembly Commission Stephen Moutray, who had for the past six months been working on the new arrangements and replaced him with Peter Weir.

“It is clear that there are divisions within the DUP about the approach to MLA expenses claims. For months Mr Moutray worked with other parties and came to agreement on the new transparent system. His Assembly colleagues obviously felt unable to live with such an open system and Mr Moutray has now paid the price with his removal from the Assembly Commission.

“In these times of proposed financial cutbacks politicians need to be seen to take a lead. Unfortunately the DUP do not seem to have accepted this. They seem to think that things should simply proceed as before. This has been their approach to local government reform and the Educational Skills Authority.

“But given the controversy, particularly around individual DUP members claims, the rental of certain properties and the employment of relatives people would rightly have believed that on the issue of MLAs expenses that even the most out of touch DUP member would realise that continuing as before is not an option.”

Leonard welcomes Parades Commission determination on Coleraine march

Sinn Féin east Derry MLA Billy Leonard has welcomed the decision by the Parades Commission to prevent a Orange Parade from passing the spot where Kevin McDaid was murdered last year.


“I welcome this move by the Parades Commission; it will go some way to reducing tension and the potential for tension," said Leonard.

"I think it is wholly inappropriate to have an Orange parade past the spot where Kevin McDaid was brutally murdered.

"Much work is ongoing in the area to try and ease intercommunity tensions and I commend that work however we have to realise the hurt and offense that this parade could cause and it is only sheer common sense that the Parades Commission should take this appropriate decision."

Community united against attacks says Sinn Féin

Speaking today after the latest in a series of attacks on community workers in North Belfast Sinn Fein local MLA Gerry Kelly said:

“Firstly let me extend a message of solidarity from the community of North Belfast to Mary Kelly after this latest bomb attack on her home. This is one in a series of attacks on the homes of community leaders in this constituency and we are calling for the PSNI to act promptly to bring the culprits before the courts,” said Kelly.

"This attack was not just dangerous to Mary and her family but disrupted neighbours and put them out of their homes overnight. I wish to thank those who opened the local community centre to provide refuge during this incident.

"The leadership shown on the ground by community workers like Mary is hugely valued across the area. The previous attack resulted in a strong and united show of support by all political representatives and activists. These attacks have to be faced down and only serve to unify us all in that approach."

DUP simply not coming clean on Assembly Allowance Reform – Ní Chuilín

Sinn Féin Chief Whip Carál Ní Chuilín has today said that the arguments put forward by the DUP in relation to reforming MLA’s allowances simply aren’t true.

“This Bill came about after Sinn Féin refused to vote for MLA pay rises. Sinn Féin was the only political party against pay increases for MLA’s. The DUP are actually trying to ensure that MLA’s are in control of setting their own salaries,” said Ní Chuilín.

“The work to change current procedure has been ongoing in the Assembly Commission for months now and the DUP, represented by Stephen Mourtray, have been right in the heart of the discussions and work.

“The DUP agreed with the other parties on the way forward the Repeal Bill, which would change the current arrangements for salaries and has been on the order paper for 2 weeks. Yesterday the DUP assembly team meets and vetoes DUP support for the Bill. They need to explain their reasons for doing so.

“Let’s be clear on what this is about; an adoption of the new procedures. The DUP MLAs can be accused of looking after themselves at a time of economic cuts and hardship. Many people are now questioning the DUP’s motivation

Their position is disgraceful.”

Fine Gael not trusted on National Question and the north

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams MP this afternoon led a leadership Sinn Féin delegation in a meeting with a visiting delegation from Fine Gael led by Party Leader Enda Kenny TD.

The Sinn Féin delegation included deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness MP MLA; Michelle Gildernew MP MLA and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development; Caoimhghin O Caoláin TD and party leader in the Dáil; Michelle O Neill MLA and Carál Ní Chuilín MLA.

Speaking to the media Mr. Adams described the meeting as “frank but good”.

Mr. Adams rejected Enda Kenny’s position in respect of Sinn Féin:

“It is deeply offensive to those who elect me and other Sinn Féin representatives that a senior politician in Leinster House doesn’t uphold the democratic rights of those who vote republican across this island and their right to chose whoever they want to represent them.

This has nothing to do with the IRA. The IRA has long since left the stage. So quite frankly, and I told Enda this, most democrats, nationalists and republicans don’t trust Fine Gael on the national question or on the north.

We are pleased to have Fine Gael here. They’re not here often enough otherwise they wouldn’t make such silly statements.

For the Fine Gael leader to say such silly things on a visit to Parliament Buildings and at a meeting in which the only government Ministers present are Sinn Féin Ministers, only feeds into those on the unionist and on the fringes of the nationalist side who are opposed to the peace process.

We had a useful discussion covering many issues and I welcome the fact that on some of these we found agreement, for example, two years ago the Dáil passed an all-party motion supporting a full investigation Dublin Monaghan bombs and asking the Taoiseach to raise this issue with the British government.

To this day the Taoiseach has not raised that issue with the British PM.”

Sinn Féin TD Caoimhin O Caloain speaking to the media on this issue said:

“I raised with the Fine Gael delegation the fact that the Justice for All group which is the only victims group in the 26 counties arising out of the conflict, will see its funding end shortly. I asked for Fine Gael support in pressing for this to continue and I was pleased with the response I received from the Fine Gael leader.

Sinn Féin continue to raise concerns on Welfare Reform Bill

Sinn Féin Social Development Committee members Carál Ní Chuilín, Mickey Brady and Fra McCann has once again outlined the party’s deep reservations concerning the Welfare Reform Bill which is currently passing through the Assembly.

At last weeks initial debate Sinn Féin tabled a number of amendments to the Bill which were defeated following the other parties voted them down.

Speaking ahead of the Bill coming before the Assembly for further consideration stage tomorrow, Newry and Armagh MLA Mickey Brady said;

“Sinn Féin has serious reservations about much of the proposals contained in this Bill; that is why we tabled a number of amendments in an aim to improve the legislation

Sinn Féin will not support sanctions against lone parents. We will not allow the passage of this Bill to proceed without opposition against these proposals and support for the most vulnerable in our society.

The other parties may be content with regulating sanctions, Sinn Féin are not.

Obviously there are aspects of the social security system here that need reformed; however we are not in favour of reform simply for the sake of it.

Fundamentally, we should not be punishing those who find themselves out of work for perfectly legitimate reasons.

The other parties, and the SDLP in particular, have very serious questions to answer about why they are bringing forward legislation that will attack the weakest within our society.”

“Implications of British Budget a cause for serious concern” –

Sinn Féin Economy Spokesperson, Mitchel McLaughlin MLA (South Antrim) has voiced serious concern about the implications of the British Budget due to be announced tomorrow (Tuesday 22nd June).

Mitchel McLaughlin said:

“While we will have to take account of the implications of the British government’s budget on our spending, I don’t believe that the British chancellor takes consideration of the impact his decisions will have on the ability of the Executive to invest in economic recovery here.

“While the Chancellor will take measures to protect areas such as Health and Education in Britain, this protection will be of no assistance here. This is just another example of the fact that without the ability to raise finance through measures such as additional tax-varying or borrowing powers we have no choice but to manage the cuts to our steadily reducing budget, imposed by London.

“I have been encouraged by recent comments by economic analysts in support of the transfer of increased fiscal powers to the Executive. I would now call on those political parties who oppose such an approach for ideological reasons to examine in pragmatic and practical terms, the benefits that would flow from such powers. It’s no good lamenting the financial difficulties that we face in consequence to the negative impact tomorrows’ expected cuts will have if we are unwilling to seek adequate powers to better manage our finances.”

Joint meeting on north-south Parliamentary Forum held at Stormont

Sinn Féin’s Pat Doherty MP and Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD have both attended a joint meeting between representatives from the Assembly and Oireachtas, on progressing the north-south Parliamentary Forum, which was held at Stormont this afternoon.

Speaking after the meeting Pat Doherty MP said;

“I welcome today’s meeting and am pleased that progress has been made in moving forward the plans for implementing the north-south Parliamentary Forum without any delay.”

Afterwards Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD said;

“Today’s meeting agreed that we would work to ensure the establishment of the north-south Parliamentary Forum before the end of this year.

This is welcome news and part and parcel of the continuing development of all-Ireland co-operation and development. Effective representation for citizens across the Island, bringing elected representatives together on issues of concern to all our people is what is needed in the time ahead as we head deeper into the economic recession and all that that means for Ireland.”

Theobald Wolfe Tone Commemoration speech by Michelle Gildernew

Bodenstown 20 June 2010

A chairde,

On this day, the 20th of June 1763, Theobald Wolfe Tone was born in Dublin. A mere thirty-five years later he died a young man in a prison cell, having devoted his life to the fight for Irish freedom. More than any other individual it was he who first brought to the Irish people the idea of democracy and the ideal of an Irish Republic.

As proud Irish republicans we salute Tone’s memory and that of the United Irishmen and Irishwomen. We are the United men and women of 2010 and I am especially proud to address you here today as the Irish Republican representative for the constituency of Fermanagh and South Tyrone.

My first message is one of thanks to the people of Fermanagh/South Tyrone who elected me and to the Sinn Féin members and supporters from across Ireland who helped in our campaign.

Buíochas mór le muintir Fhear Manach agus Tír Eoghain Theas agus leo siúd uile a chabhraigh linn. Bhí sibh go léir ar fheabhas ar fad.

My second message is one of solidarity to the people of Derry and the families of the victims of Bloody Sunday. The achievement of the Saville Report into the murders of 14 innocent civilians and the wounding of 13 others, published last Tuesday – is your achievement. Finally the lies of Widgery have been consigned to the dustbin of history.

Saville has also brought to an end a four-decade long cover-up of the Bloody Sunday massacre, authorised at the highest levels of the British establishment.

And let there be no mistake about it, Bloody Sunday was not some aberration by rogue soldiers. Just a few months earlier 11 innocent civilians were shot dead by the British Army in the greater Ballymurphy area of west Belfast. The Ballymurphy massacre and Bloody Sunday exposed the malign role of the British army in Ireland and contributed in a major way to the unfolding conflict in Ireland.

The ultimate act of justice for all our people will be the final removal from Ireland of the British Army and the end of British rule in our country.

My third message is an international one.

Wolfe Tone was an internationalist, a passionate advocate of human liberty across the globe, as are all true Irish republicans. So a message of solidarity today goes to the people of Gaza and all Palestine.

You are an imprisoned people, a ghettoised people, a tortured people. We salute you and we salute those courageous citizens from all over the world who joined the relief flotilla for Gaza. We remember the members of that flotilla murdered by Israel.

We ask the Irish Government and all the governments of the EU: What more does the Israeli regime have to do before Israeli ambassadors are told to go home, and before the EU ends its special trade agreements with Israel?

The demands are clear:
End the blockade of Gaza. Free the people of Palestine. Real peace based on justice and human rights.

I have thanked the people of Fermanagh/South Tyrone and I want to thank also the voters across the Six Counties who re-elected our five MPs and made Sinn Féin the largest party in that part of our country.

That is a huge achievement for Sinn Féin and for the people we represent. But far more important is what we do with the people’s mandate.

In the Executive and in the Assembly we will soon be faced with demands for major cuts as a result of the Budget to be introduced by the new Conservative/Liberal Democrat government in Britain.

We anticipate that the block grant to the Six Counties will be reduced and that efforts will be made to cut public services and social supports. Be assured that Sinn Féin will resist those efforts and work to our utmost to defend services and livelihoods, especially for the most vulnerable.

But let there be no illusions. We are faced with this situation because the Six Counties is still under British jurisdiction and the Assembly is denied the fiscal powers to run our own economy in our own way and as part of the wider Irish economy.

Elected representatives of all shades in the North should realise that it is in the interests of all the people to work for an all-Ireland economy and for an all-Ireland democracy.

And what is true of elected representatives in the Six Counties is equally true of those in the 26 Counties. There has been much debate recently about the future – both economic and political. However, in this State most of the debate has been deeply partitionist in nature. Few have faced the fact that for a truly new Ireland to emerge partition must be ended.

So let us in Sinn Féin again lead that demand. It is the theme of our commemoration this year – ‘Towards a New Republic – a United Ireland.’
Taimíd i Sinn Féin ag obair i dtreo Poblacht Nua – Éire Aontaithe.

We need to remind the other political parties what they say they stand for: Fine Gael – the United Ireland party; Labour, which claims the mantle of James Connolly; and Fianna Fáil which calls itself – God help us – the Republican Party.

The parties maintain these claims – token and insincere though they are – because they know that a peaceful, united Ireland is still the sincere aspiration of the majority of people on this island.

But is it more than an aspiration. It is a right. It is a democratic imperative. It is an economic necessity.

Some commentators have said that to speak of a united Ireland now in the midst of an economic recession is folly. But, in reality, talk of a transformation in Irish politics without addressing the division of our country and of our people is the talk of fools.

Wolfe Tone said that Irish independence would be based on that “numerous and respectable class of the community the men of no property”.

The people of no property did not cause the economic collapse in Ireland but they are being made to pay the price.

That price is being paid by half a million unemployed, by workers in public service, industry and agriculture whose incomes have been slashed, by those dependent on social welfare, by patients in hospitals and children in schools who suffer the effects of cuts.

We know who should have paid the price - the top bankers and speculators, the so-called regulators and the corrupt politicians. But has a single one of them spent even a night behind bars? Not a chance.

And let it be said very clearly – it didn’t have to be this way.
We in Sinn Féin warned that the property bubble created by Fianna Fáil and their cronies was a disaster waiting to happen. We called for the privileged to be made to pay their way. We called for the wealth to be shared. We called for housing policy based on housing need not speculators’ greed.

They refused to listen to us and to others who warned against their folly. And now in their arrogance they try to wriggle out of responsibility for the massive social and economic mess they created.

We say to Brian Cowen and Fianna Fáil and to their Green mudguards – get out of office, call a General Election, let the people give you their answer and let’s build a new politics.

No serious opposition party would make such a shambles of a rare opportunity to hold the government to account in the way that Fine Gael did with last Tuesday’s motion of no confidence in the Taoiseach .

Fine Gael is locked in a battle that is all about personalities and has nothing to with policies. It has nothing to offer that is different to Fianna Fáil. These Fine Gael TD’s want power for power’s sake. This is a grubby squabble over who gets cabinet seats if they get into government.

We say to Labour, if your vision of a new politics is coalition with Fine Gael then you are about to let the people down again. What would be different about economic policy under a Fine Gael-led Government? The knife making the cuts would have a different coloured handle, that’s all.

The government here has abjectly failed the people and the country. It does not have any mandate for NAMA or for cuts to vital public services and social protection and its most recent refusal to hold overdue by-elections because it fears the people’s verdict is shameful.

This state is urgently in need of a radical republican political agenda. In communities across this state Sinn Féin is day and daily providing a real alternative to the politics of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and of Labour.

We have put forward a realistic alternative to the Government’s slash and burn policies, and have shown where money could be raised and saved without touching frontline public services or social welfare. We have launched proposals for retaining and creating jobs, including a specific set of proposals for creating jobs for the young unemployed.

Over the last six months Sinn Féin has been engaged with huge numbers of people as part of local and state-wide campaigns on all these issues. People are clearly looking for an alternative. They are fed up with the establishment parties.

For the first time it may be that a majority of people in this State are considering voting other than Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael in the next General Election.

That is a huge opportunity to create a new political landscape and we in Sinn Féin must be central to it.

We must be ready to meet the challenge. We have the sound, sensible, principled policies. We have the record of work alongside our communities the length and breadth of Ireland. Let’s be ready to give those communities the leadership they need and deserve and let’s elect Sinn Féin TDs across this State.

In advancing the struggle one of our most important assets has always been our paper, An Phoblacht. In a few days, 24 June, the new monthly An Phoblacht will be published. We pay tribute to all who have worked for the paper over the past 40 years. We urge every republican to help make a success of the new monthly and of the enhanced on-line presence of the paper.

In the next decade we will mark the centenaries of key events in Irish history.
These include the hundredth anniversaries of the Great Lockout and the Easter Rising in 2016, the Sinn Fein General Election victory in 2018, the First Dáil Éireann in 2019. For republicans these are very important milestones.

In commemorating great events and honouring our patriot dead we are doing more than recalling history. We are stating our determination to complete the struggle and achieve the full freedom for which so many have given their lives – from Wolfe Tone and the United Irish of 1798 to the IRA Volunteers of our own time.

Let’s begin this year and next with the 30th anniversary of the H-Block hunger strikes. I am very proud to represent the same constituency as Bobby Sands. Bobby wrote on the first day of his Hunger Strike Diary that he was “born of a risen generation with a deeply rooted and unquenchable desire for freedom”.

We still have that unquenchable desire and we know what freedom will mean. It will mean a New Republic – a United Ireland.

Kelly comments following ‘Tour of the North’ parade

“I want to congratulate the residents group CARA (Crumlin Ardyone Residents Association) for the effective representation of the residents of Ardyone, Mountainview and the Dales on the issue of Friday’s Tour of the North Orange Parade,” said Sinn Féin North Belfast MLA Gerry Kelly.

“They were instrumental in ensuring an almost incident free night for everyone in the area. CARA maintained the principle of dialogue throughout the year to achieve a peaceful outcome in this Loyal Order parade not passing through these nationalist and republican areas.

“However after achieving a good result from the Parades Commission in barring this section of the parade, members of a self-styled group calling themselves the Greater Ardoyne Residents Collective (GARC) put up a large sign directly facing the Loyalist Twaddell Avenue which read “no parade, no violence”. They did this on the very evening that this section of the parade had been banned.

“While all nationalist and republicans are against any of these Loyal Order parades going through or passing nationalist areas, this particular action carried out on the very day the parade was successfully banned, was no more than a deliberate attempt to provoke a reaction from Loyalists. I welcome the fact that no one reacted to this deliberate provocation. This resulted in a well deserved respite for both nationalist and unionist residents who live in the area.

“There are a number of residents groups properly constituted and elected by the people to represent different parts of Greater Ardoyne. GARC is self-styled, non-elected and constituted, it would seem, for the sole purpose of undermining other residents groups and undermining possible peaceful resolutions to existing issues.

“As an elected representative for the area I am prepared to speak to the membership of GARC openly and honestly about any issues affecting the Greater Ardoyne area or indeed anything else they may wish to talk about. However, it must be said that so far this group seems entirely intent on confrontation with all that that entails for residents living in the area, instead of actually working to a peaceful resolution.”

Situation in Roe House needs resolved – Sinn Féin

Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín (North Belfast) has said that Sinn Féin representatives continue to express serious concerns about the current situation for Prisoners in Roe House, Maghabbery prison.

Ní Chuilín was giving a breakdown of the engagements carried out by Sinn Féin after a party delegation recently met prisoners during a visit to Maghaberry.


“Over the course of recent weeks a number of Sinn Féin representatives have visited prisoners in Maghaberry. We are actively seeking a resolution to the issues in the jail. It is important that prisoners rights are protected.

Gerry Adams raised the issue directly with David Ford. We have also met with relatives of prisoners affected by the current regime in the prison.

We are currently involved in an ongoing engagement with the Justice Department as we seek to ensure a speedy resolution of the problems in Maghaberry.

Raymond McCartney and myself met with the Director of the Prison Service Robin Masefield on numerous occasions to outline our ongoing concerns about the situation in Roe House and in relation to the Prison system overall.

I recently attended a public meeting in Conway Mill on the 29th May in relation to the situation for prisoners in Maghaberry, I outlined Sinn Féin’s position following our delegation’s visit to the prison.

It remains our view that with the right political will the outstanding issues can be resolved and a humane regime can quickly be put in place. People being held in prison have the right to be treated with respect and dignity”

Orange march damages positive work - Ní Chuilín

North Belfast MLA Carál Ní Chuilín said the Tour of the North Orange Order march up Duncairn Gardens on Friday night will do little to help community relations in the area, which have improved massively in recent years.

“Whilst we have welcomed the ruling last week against the Tour of the North marching through Ardoyne, Sinn Féin made clear our opposition to these parades being imposed on residents against their will,” she said.

“There are alternatives open to the marching orders which would enable them to proceed without hindrance or offence to neighbouring communities. The recent work done in the greater New Lodge and Tigers Bay, which culminated in an inter-community festival, which was inclusive and hugely positive, is a demonstration of the way forward for us all.

“These Orange marches damage those efforts and set back the leadership being shown to face down sectarianism and hate crimes. Ultimately the only resolution to the issue of contentious Orange parades is meaningful dialogue with local residents.”

Sinn Féin MLAs at protest to save services at the Mater Hospital

Sinn Féin MLAs joined with other North Belfast parties in a show of unity to save services at the Mater Hospital.

"We are here today to resolutely show a united front against cuts to Mater Hospital services,” said Gerry Kelly. “North Belfast ranks at the top of categories of deprivation including poor health, suicide, lack of disability services and unemployment.
“The Mater is central to tackling these generations of inequalities and needs to be developed further and not face cuts that will disproportionately hit our most vulnerable communities."

Glacann de Brún páirt i ndíospóireacht IFI san Eoraip

Ag labhairt i ndiaidh an vóta ar maoiniú CIÉ i bParlaimint na hEorpa inniu dúirt an Feisire Bairbre de Brún;

“Thar na blianta, bhí ról an-tacúil ag an Chiste Idirnáisiúnta d’Éirinn in aimsiú buansíochána in Éirinn, Thuaidh agus theas.

Rinne an Ciste Idirnáisiúnta d'Éirinn obair thábhachtach sna réimsí is mó a ndeachaigh an choimhlint i bhfeidhm orthu maidir le tógáil acmhainneachta, athmhuintearas, forbairt gheilleagrach agus athfhorás i gceantair dhíothachta.

De bhrí go mbíonn baol i gceist le tógáil síochána agus athmhuintearais ach is gá é chun fadhbanna polaitiúla, eacnamaíoch agus shóisialta a shárú.

Le linn na coimhlinte, chomhlíon rannóga pobail agus deonacha ról riachtanach chun dlúth an phobail a choinneáil le chéile agus chun aghaidh a thabhairt ar mheathlú sóisialta agus ar dhíothacht. Ba mhinic an CIÉ ábalta airgead a chur ar fáil mar bhunmhaointheoir [sa chéad áit chun airgead a chur ar an tábla] ag cur ar chumas na ngrúpaí dul chuig maoinitheoirí eile le haghaidh tograí tógála síochána, agus chun maoiniú PEACE nó Interreg a fháil.

D’fhág an choimhlint in Éirinn oidhreacht fhadtéarmach a bhfuil tionchar go fóill aici ar shochaí na hÉireann agus is dócha go mbeidh seo amhlaidh sna blianta fada romhainn. I dtuaisceart na hÉireann chruthaigh an choimhlint pobail scartha, a d’fhág scoilteanna doimhne sóisialta, eacnamaíocha agus polaitiúla.

Mar gheall ar an phróiseas síochána, a raibh sé de phribhléid agam páirt a imirt ann, rinneadh dul chun cinn iontach ach tá bóthar fada romhainn go fóill.
Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis an Aontas Eorpach as a thacaíocht leanúnach do phróiseas síochána na hÉireann.

Is próiseas é tógáil síochána atá fadtéarmach agus éabhlóideach, próiseas ina bhfuil rannpháirtíocht ag leibhéal áitiúil agus i measc daoine leochaileacha ríthábhachtacha.

Tá sé ríthábhachtach go dtacófar go hairgeadúil leis na cláir thógála síochána a léirigh a bhfeidhmiúlacht, ach go háirithe iad siúd bainteach le grúpaí pobail agus deonacha, nuair a thiocfaidh maoiniú reatha PEACE agus CIÉ chun deiridh.”

Councillor welcomes parade ruling

A Parades Commission ruling that a controversial band parade through Glengormley next week should not be allowed to delay at any point on the route has been welcomed by Sinn Féin councilor Tierna Cunningham.

The parading body's ruling on next Tuesday night's 'mini-Twelfth' parade comes after disturbances at last year's parade when up to 300 loyalist band supporters hurled sectarian abuse at children and young people on the mainly nationalist Church Road.
A flute band taking part in the parade also stopped and played The Sash.
The PSNI came under heavy criticism for their handling of the parade last year after they failed to move the band supporters on and stood by while abuse and threats were hurled at nationalist residents.

"We met with the PSNI last week to raise our concerns over the behaviour during last year's parade and the serious policing failures to tackle sectarian and provocative action by band supporters," said Cllr Cunningham.
"We were encouraged by the meeting and the police assured us they would deal with the many concerns we raised, including alcohol and keeping the parade moving. We hope it passes off this year with the minimum of disruption to local people,” she added.

Something more needs doen to end anti-social attacks - Councillor

Sinn Féin Councillor Gerard McCabe said he would be holding a meeting with statutory agencies to discuss anti-social behaviour after residents of Deerpark Gardens suffered as bottles, bricks and stones rained down on their homes and cars from Ballysillan Playing Fields.

The Sinn Féin Councillor said he urgently wants an update from Council officials who have put plans forward for approval to install a fence to help stop the attacks.
The situation facing the residents of the small cul-de-sac in Deerpark Parade is also being mirrored across the street in Deerpark Road, said McCabe.
“It is quite a large section of Deerpark that is being affected by this and residents tell me it’s been going on for years,” he said.

“I have contacted Belfast City Council and the PSNI about this and with interface worker Breandan Clarke, we did a walkabout of the area only last week. The PSNI were able to say they are familiar with the problems. But they say if they block the entrances to Ballysillan Playing Fields the kids still manage to get away. So something more permanent needs to be done.”

Meanwhile the Sinn Féin Councillor said he believed figures were much higher for anti-social behaviour in Ardoyne as it was impossible to record everything.
The Sinn Féin Councillor was responding after 110 incidents were clocked up by Belfast City Council's community safety wardens patrolling Ardoyne over a three-week period.
Every day during three weeks in May (10-31) on average five incidents took place, ranging from criminal damage, anti-social behaviour and vandalism in a small stretch of streets that measures only a third of a mile.

"The figures are only the tip of the iceberg because the wardens can't catch everything," he said. "And although it works out at five incidents a day, all the trouble and the nuisances most probably happen on the weekends, so the figures can be a bit misleading. This is where agencies such as the police, Housing Executive and Social Services need to step up their efforts."

White line picket in support of families

Hundreds of people took to the streets of Belfast on Monday to show their solidarity with the families of the Bloody Sunday victims.
North Belfast MLA Gerry Kelly said the report was an important milestone in Ireland's history.
“British Crown Forces have been directly responsible for the killing of almost 370 Irish citizens during the conflict including the 14 innocent civilians on Bloody Sunday," he said.

“On Monday the community stood shoulder to shoulder with the relatives of those victims. The people of Derry have called on the British government to set the truth free, and of course this resonates with the people of the New Lodge and the victims of the New Lodge Six massacre that seen six innocent lives lost in 1973 as a result of the actions of British soldiers."

Can Trimble be impartial when Unionist have a “sneaking regard” for Israel? – Sinn Féin

Sinn Féin Assembly Chief Whip Carál Ní Chuilín MLA has questioned the Israeli appointment of David Trimble on a panel to investigate the attacks on the aid flotilla to Gaza at the beginning of June.

“I have to question the intention of the Israeli Government in appointing David Trimble on the panel to investigate the murderous attack on the aid flotilla attempting to break the siege of Gaza,” said Ní Chuilín.


“I wonder if David Trimble, who is a former leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, is of the same opinion as the current deputy leader of that party, Danny Kennedy, who stated during a debate in the Assembly on the 1st of June said;

“Given our experience of terrorism and how it was dealt with in Northern Ireland, I think that a section of the unionist population have more than a sneaking regard for the manner in which the Israeli Government defends Israel and puts its security considerations above all others.”

“Mr Trimble’s impartiality in the relation to this investigation will no doubt be questioned given the fact that he is one of the leading figures in the “Friends of Israel Initiative” which was recently launched in Paris.

In January 2004, at an ‘International congress on Victims of Terrorism’, held in San Pablo CEU University outside Madrid, David Trimble said;

“One of the great curses of this world is the human rights industry. They justify terrorist acts and end up being complicit in the murder of innocent victims”.

So many will question just how serious or impartial an investigation Israel has initiated when at this early stage they send a very clear message to the world that only those supportive of Israel will be in a position to investigate what was a criminal act of international piracy.”