Cowen hits out at attacks on SDLP

FOREIGN Affairs Minister Brian Cowen last night launched an attack on dissident republicans who are waging a campaign of intimidation against nationalist members of the North’s Policing Board.

Hitting out at the latest incident, in which a hoax device was left outside the west Belfast office of SDLP Policing Board member Alex Attwood, Mr Cowen branded those responsible “cowards”.

“Over the past number of weeks, we have once again seen members of the SDLP come under attack from cowardly thugs who wish to turn the clock back on policing reform.

“With the discovery of a suspect device at Alex Attwood’s office, we have seen another deplorable attempt to intimidate a Policing Board member.”

Army bomb experts carried out two controlled explosions on the suspect package left outside the SDLP constituency office on the Andersonstown Road yesterday.

It is the second time in ten days that a hoax device has been planted outside Mr Attwood’s office.

Four weeks ago, a letter bomb addressed to Mr Attwood was sent to the Belfast headquarters of the Policing Board. The device was safely defused.

There have also been a number of bomb attacks on the homes of nationalist members of the District Policing Partnerships.

Mr Cowen called on the intimidation to end: “The members of the DPPs and Policing Boards are working tirelessly on behalf of their communities to create the police service which was promised in the Good Friday Agreement.”

And in a veiled swipe at republicans who have refused to sign up to the new arrangements, he praised the “courageous decision” of the SDLP and other nationalists to take their places on the Policing Board and district partnerships.

He added: “The DPP and the Policing Board members have the full support of the Government. It is past time that they receive the support and respect of the entire community for their invaluable efforts.”

SDLP councillor Margaret Walsh said the local community was suffering because of the actions of faceless men targeting her party. She said the SDLP would continue its work despite the campaign.

“Ten years after the first ceasefires, it is time for these attacks to end,” she said.

Sinn Féin Assembly member for West Belfast Michael Ferguson called on those responsible for planting the hoax package to end their campaign.

“Those responsible for this incident and other similar activity need to get of the backs of the people in this area and stop this disruption once and for all,” Mr Ferguson added.