Mental health services being under-resourced – Ní Chuilín

Local Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín has questioned why the numbers of patients on waiting lists to see a mental health consultant are not being kept by area.

Ní Chuilín was speaking after she submitted a written question in the Assembly to health minister Michael McGimpsey asking for a breakdown of how many people are on the mental health waiting list by constituency area.

However the minister responded saying the information is not available in that format. The Health and Social Care Board keep waiting list figures by Trust area, but not by areas such as North or West Belfast.

The Sinn Féin MLA said in an area such as North Belfast where depression and mental health problems are widespread, figures for how many people are on the waiting list should be available.

“The fact that mental health statistics are not held to show how many and how long people are waiting to see a professional is just not acceptable,” said Ní Chuilín.
“It’s a further indication of mental health services being under-resourced and the Cinderella Service of the health department.

“In North Belfast with such high levels of suicide and self harm, how can the health service be held to account effectively if we can’t measure performance through factual data?

“We wouldn’t accept this in any other public body and given we are talking about our most vulnerable citizens with mental health needs, this revelation is completely outrageous.”

Councillor acts on sports pitch flooding

Local councillor Gerard McCabe said flooding at the multi sports facility in the Waterworks needs remedied after children turning up for soccer training recently were told the sessions could not go ahead because of health and safety reasons.

McCabe said the facility is one of the few sites for kids in the area and that it was resurfaced in August last year to the cost of £38,000.

"Obviously the job needs to be looked at again because of the flooding in vast areas of the pitch. The fact that young kids aren't able to use the facility makes this even more urgent,” said the Sinn Féin representative.
"It is used not only by young people but also for late night soccer and if it rains users run the risk of being hurt on the surface.

"Due to the fact that this facility is open late nights at weekends to give young people an alternative to standing on street corners, the problem needs to be address as a matter of urgency."
He also added that he will be looking into the lack of changing facilities at the site.

"The sports facility is used by approximately 70,000 visitors per year and there are no changing facilities for young people. I am aware that there was money available but because of difficulties over planning it was shelved. I will be taking up the issue with Belfast City Council's parks and leisure department," said Gerard.

Finucane anniversary remembered with artwork

A new piece of artwork in memory of Pat Finucane was unveiled on the eve of the 22nd anniversary of the solicitor’s murder, Pat’s brother Seamus Finucane represented the Finucane family at Relatives for Justice’s Falls Road office where the art was unveiled.

The glass mosaic is the work of local artist Paul McGivern who said he was “honoured” to have been able to create the work in memory of the North Belfast human rights solicitor who was gunned down by the UDA at his family home in Fortwilliam on February 12 1989.
Pat’s brother Seamus told those assembled that he hopes justice will prevail in his brother’s case.

“After 22 years we are still trying to achieve truth and justice,” he said. “In that struggle, the human dimension may have been lost. Twenty-two years ago today I met my wife, she never met Pat. Now I have a granddaughter who has never seen Pat. Sadly, there are many families like us. We now hope the British government will do the right thing and implement an independent inquiry into Pat’s death.

“I want to thank RFJ for organising this, it’s a real honour to be here. I want to thank Paul, who found the energy, time and inspiration to pay tribute to Pat. This is a very fitting site for the artwork.”

RFJ’s JJ Magee paid tribute to the Finucane family for their determination over the past 22 years.
“It has been 22 years since Pat was brutally murdered,” he said.
“Pat was a family man, a husband, a father, a brother, a colleague and an officer of the court who represented many of the families who work with RFJ in their quest for justice.Credit must go to the Finucane family who, despite every obstacle that has been placed before them, continue their search for justice. The determination to get the truth is still there.

“When we lift the lid on what happened to Pat, we lift the lid on the collusion that took place in other incidents.
“As a friend of Pat's I am very honoured to be here with Seamus Finucane to unveil the portrait. This mural is very much at home here at RFJ.”

Victory in education campaign

Speaking as it was announced in the Assembly that the UUP Minister wouldn't abolish the Education Maintenance Allowance, Sinn Féin Councillor Mary Ellen Campbell said the announcement is very welcome.

"Sinn Féin have campaigned for our young people to be supported through EMA and this announcement is very welcome.

“Our most disadvantaged students will continue to be funded to stay in education rather than be forced into a low waged and stagnant job market."

“Tory slash and burn policies have abolished this allowance in England at the stroke of a pen. This Assembly decision is a clear example of power in local people's hands being used to stop that right wing reactionary agenda.

“We will be holding the Minister to his word on this issue on behalf of our most disadvantaged young people.”

Kelly hosts visually impaired social inclusion event in Assembly

Gerry Kelly hosted an event in the Assembly for people with visual impairments from North Belfast and beyond who are campaigning for social inclusion.

At a special reception in the building’s Long Gallery, Duncairn Gardens-based group Visual Access NI demonstrated the range of equipment available to people experiencing sight loss, they also encouraged politicians to do more to ensure they are not socially excluded.

Kelly said his own political advisor, Colm Glover, is a great example of how people can succeed in society and manage sight loss.
“Colm is in his job because he is good at his job and the visual impairment has not prevented him from doing the job effectively and that is the way it should be for everybody,” said the North Belfast MLA.

“Not only is Visual Access NI in the centre of North Belfast, it is also in an interface area and Tommy Hughes (who runs Visual Access NI) was able to bring his small business right through and he needs congratulations for that. We are here as a resource for this lobby.

“Government departments must tackle social exclusion particularly given that the vast majority of the community living with sight loss are older people.”

Sinn Féin call for immediate release of Brendan Lillis

Sinn Féin MLA for West Belfast, Pat Sheehan, has called for the immediate release of Brendan Lillis, currently being held in Maghaberry Prison.

“Sinn Féin is totally opposed to former political prisoners being held in prison by revoking their licence," said Pat.

“Now that the charges against Brendan Lillis are not being brought forward he should be released immediately.

“Given the urgency of Brendan Lillis’ medical condition he should not be in prison.

“Sinn Féin has been in contact with Owen Patterson, the British Secretary of State, and the Sentence Review Commission and we have called on them to deal with this case without delay.”

Students react angrily to British army recruitment at Queens University

Students have reacted angrily to members of the Royal Irish Regiment recruiting outside Queens University once again. The regiment of the British Army opened a recruitment stall today accompanied by two British soldiers in full military regalia trying to recruit students.

These recruitment drives have been ongoing with the British Army having a stall at the fresher’s fair in September and recruitment posters advertised within the Queens Students union etc.

The British army are an illegal force of occupation and should not be permitted to recruit on campus. A university should be a neutral environment free from offensive literature and posters that only serve to promote an atmosphere of exclusion and segregation.

Student and QUB Sinn Féin activist Megan Fearon said:

“I was appalled at the presence of the British Army at the university today. The British war machine is an occupying force in Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan, and should not be allowed to recruit young Irish students.

"It is a disgrace that following the outrage and controversy the RIR ‘victory parade’ caused, that they would choose to target vulnerable students, who in the current economic climate are faced with unemployment issues, this is taken advantage of.

"They promise students adventure, excitement and a good career prospect when in reality all they will be doing is giving their lives to an imperialist power that will use them to invade and occupy other countries. The British army have no right to be in Ireland never mind our universities.

"I call on all Queens’s students to reject the presence of this war force on our campus and for the University to no longer permit them to recruit”.

Kelly condemns second north Belfast bomb alert

Sinn Féin MLA for north Belfast Gerry Kelly has condemned those responsible for both of today’s bomb scares in his constituency.

“This morning’s alert was caused by a viable device being left on the window sil of a house in Stratheden Street in the New Lodge and this evening’s alert was caused by a device left in a communal corridor in a communal block of flats at Cavehill Road," said Kelly.

"On both occasions these devices were found by members of the public. In both instances there were no warnings given despite these being viable devices.

"The reality we are dealing with is that people in our community could have lost their lives as a result of these reckless actions.

"I condemn it outright and people in north Belfast reject those responsible totally. The people carrying out these mindless actions need to stop now before someone is killed.”

New Lodge Six Commemoration

The New Lodge Six commemoration will take place tonight (Thursday February 3) at the New Lodge Memorial Garden in Donor Court (off the New Lodge Road) at 7pm. Speaker is North Belfast Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín

Ní Chuilín critical of jail sentence for young mother

North Belfast MLA Carál Ní Chuilín has criticised the three month sentence imposed on a young mother for stealing a £10 pair of jeans.

“I was outraged at both the sentence imposed by the Judge and his attempt to rationalise it,” said Carál.
“Courts must always act in the public interest in a proportionate and reasonable manner. This sentence was neither proportionate, reasonable or in the public interest.

“While we have been rightly critical of overly lenient sentencing for serious criminals in the past we also have a duty to criticise the actions of the judiciary when they are seen to be unacceptably harsh for minor offences that could be addressed through non-custodial alternatives.

“From all reports the Judge did not take account of a pre-sentence report that this woman was unlikely to re-offend or the affect this sentence would have on her young child. He failed to consider alternatives to custody.

“The Assembly is presently considering a new justice bill and Sinn Féin is putting forward proposals for alternatives to prosecution for many non-violent offences,” said the Sinn Féin MLA.

More misery inflicted on New Lodge residents – Ní Chuilín

Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín has called on those responsible for this morning’s bomb alert in the New Lodge to come forward and explain their actions to the community.

Speaking after visiting the scene of the alert Carál, who lives in the area, said;

“This morning we have had yet more misery inflicted upon the community in north Belfast and to what end?

What is the point in this and why are those responsible, if they are confident in their actions, stepping forward to, at the very least, try and give a rationale for what they are doing?

Its time these things stopped, the community in the New Lodge don’t want it.”