Kelly condemns another north Belfast pipe bombing

Sinn Féin MLA for north Belfast Gerry Kelly has condemned those responsible for another pipe bomb attack in the north of the city tonight.
“Firstly I want to condemn those responsible for what is without doubt a reckless attack that could have killed or seriously injured someone. All it has achieved is to have forced ten families onto the street on a miserable winter’s night,” said Kelly.
“This is clearly a direct attempt by those involved to disrupt or detract from the current talks, this will not succeed. Sinn Féin is committed to moving forward on behalf of all of our people, we are committed to ensuring that politics delivers for our community.
“The people responsible for tonight’s attack offer our community nothing.”

Goal is an Ireland based on freedom, justice and equality

By Carál Ní Chuilín

There is a striking mural at the top of the New Lodge. It depicts six young men from the area who were murdered by British soldiers exactly 37 years ago.
Every morning as I set off for another day at the Assembly I see Jim Sloan, Jim Mc Cann, Brendan Maguire, Tony TC Campbell, John Loughran and Ambrose Hardy relaxed and smiling down as their families and friends remember them.

On the 30th Anniversary of the killings, the families of the six men and the wider community launched a report, based on the community inquiry.
The findings of this report highlighted what we already knew. What happened on the New Lodge Road on the 3rd and 4th of February 1973 was state murder. The British Government have yet to accept culpability for this atrocity. This was a carefully crafted political act to attack us as a people, our way of life and our very existence.

The link between state murders and the killings highlighted in the O’Loan Report on Collusion, is that political direction for the murders of so many of our people was endorsed at the very highest political level and thus we continue to support the families search for justice.

The British Army have gone from the top of the flats, they have gone from Girdwood barracks, and we want to build on the type of Ireland that we can live in, based on freedom, justice and equality.

We want to live in a community where the events of the 3rd and 4th of February 1973, can never, ever be repeated. We want to ensure that we cherish all children of the nation equally, not just some, but all. We want to build our political strength and get a United Ireland, which will protect all its citizens and be the guarantor of truth and justice.

And as I come home once again I'm faced with that same mural of six of this community’s young men cut down in the prime of life.
It's almost like being judged twice a day as an elected representative on how you have battled for equality, justice and the rights that so many gave their lives for.
That's a good thing. It places recent frustrations in perspective. It also reminds us of the importance of justice powers being secure in the hands of those that know the brutality of justice abused and denied for so long.

Empty base attack condemned

Sinn Féin North Belfast MLA Gerry Kelly was scathing of a pipe bomb attack by suspected dissidents on Oldpark PSNI base and the trouble it caused for residents.

"There is no PSNI in this station, it has been closed for a considerable period of time, and if this was to further a cause, an attack was clearly of no benefit. There is a security firm here to maintain the building and that's all."

He also welcomed news of the land sale adding: "We have been arguing for a long time that this facility is handed over to the community for their use."

Community comes together against drugs

A vigil was held in the New Lodge at the weekend in memory of local teen Jimmy Joe Brown who took his own life after what his mother believes was the affect that 'blue bomber' drugs had on him.
His mother was supported by the mother of Tigers Bay youth Dean Clarke took his own life after taking the same drugs in 2007.
Over 200 people gathered on Sunday and local Sinn Féin councillor Conor Maskey, who spoke at the vigil, said the focus needs to be on the dealers, not on the young people taking the drugs.
"The main message that I tried to get across on Sunday is that young people in the district, especially the young people involved in consuming drugs, need our support and compassion and understanding," he said.
"That is the starting point in dealing with a lot of this. You will never get the best result by vilifying the young people doing this.
"The main focus of negative attention needs to be directed towards the drug dealers."

Waterworks pollution a set back for community

North Belfast MLA Gerry Kelly has described a major pollution incident at Waterworks as a major setback for the community.
"There is huge concern about this incident. So much hard work has gone into the park by the community, fishermen, council and voluntary groups in recent years that it has been transformed into a place for all ages of people to enjoy. This is a major setback for North Belfast and questions need to be answered over who is to blame and who is going to bear the cost of the clean-up operation."

Housing ring-fencing strategy should stay - Ní Chuilín

Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín has supported the Participation and Practice of Rights (PPR) Project that appeared in front of an Assembly scrutiny committee last week to express their anger that a protective measure that guarantees North Belfast social housing has been removed.
PPR appeared in front of the social development committee last Thursday to explain the impact the removal of the measure will have on North Belfast.
Under original Housing Executive strategy North Belfast, West Belfast and Derry, the three areas in the North in most housing need, were 'ring-fenced' to ensure the budget was there to build new homes for those who most need them.
The 'ring-fencing' strategy meant that North Belfast was guaranteed 250 housing units per annum to address the religious inequality in social housing provision.
The decision to remove the 'ring-fencing' strategy was up for public consultation in a document called a draft Equality Impact Assessment of the Social Development Programme Strategic Guidelines. However the measure has already been removed, meaning North Belfast will see annual targets of 250 housing units reduced to 177 - a 29 per cent decrease.
MLA Carál Ní Chuilín who sits on the social development committee said the people of North and West Belfast and Derry have been "failed" by the decision.
"It is important that a group like the PPR Project can go in front of a government scrutiny committee," said the Sinn Féin MLA.
"People in areas like North Belfast, West Belfast and Derry will suffer with the removal of this equality protection. This is a very serious issue that needs to be addressed, this ring fencing measure should never have been removed."

Sinn Féin councillor opposes flats in wooded area

Sinn Féin councillor and local resident Tierna Cunningham said she opposes the plans to build 28 apartments in a wooded area in the Whitewell.
“I am very concerned about the proposals and residents have been angry about this for some time,” said the Republican representative.

Plans have been submitted to the Planning Service to build four apartment blocks which will make up 28 apartments on the wood at Pineview. The wooded area links Pineview and the Antrim Road and is one of the few green spaces left in the area.

People living in the area are heavily opposed to the plans and are set to meet planning officials next week to discuss the proposals.
"The concerns are very real as this development will have a negative impact on the area. It will affect traffic volume and will be an invasion of privacy as well as damaging the environment as there are foxes and other wildlife in the woods,” said Tierna.
"The local infrastructure won't be able to keep up. I will continue to liaise with residents in the area and hope we come to a satisfactory conclusion."

Buildings on fire
Meanwhile Tierna has said that two derelict buildings on the Antrim Road that were set on fire this week, must be properly secured.
Belfast City Council's building control department has served an enforcement notice on the owners of a derelict building on the Antrim Road forcing them to secure the site after it was set on fire this week.

It took five fire engines almost three hours to extinguish the blaze at the two derelict semi detached homes on the Antrim Road facing St Patrick's College on Tuesday. The Fire and Rescue Service said the blaze was started deliberately.
"People who are responsible for a derelict building such as this one need to step up to the plate, it’s not good enough to leave these sites wide open for people particularly young people to access," said the Sinn Féin councillor.

"They are dangerous and become an eyesore for local people plus they attract fly tipping, vermin and graffiti and are a magnet for anti social behaviour.
“We in Sinn Féin have been in contact with the owners of this building and will be reminding them of their responsibility to secure this property in a safe way.”