Welcome by some for law against sectarianism

The British Government plans to introduce legislation, which would make sectarianism a criminal offence were today welcomed by several Northern Ireland parties.

SDLP Minister Brid Rodgers, the cross community Alliance Party and Workers Party, praised the move by Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid announced in the closing address to the Labour Party conference in Brighton.

In a hard hitting speech denouncing sectarianism, Dr Reid told delegates the north’s image had been ‘‘tarnished’’ by the ‘‘disgusting spectacle’’ of loyalist protests against Catholic primary schoolchidlren and their parents in north Belfast.

He told them: ‘‘It is the right of every child to be educated free of intimidation and harassment and whatever the cost this government will protect that right.

‘‘If we are going to hate in Northern Ireland, let’s hate those things we should hate - poverty, unemployment, deprivation and sectarianism - not those people in the next street with a different religion.

‘‘Those - on either side of the divide - who can’t leave behind their hatred and bitterness can’t be allowed to blight the lives of others.

‘‘That’s why I am announcing today that we will legislate to criminalise those manifestations of hatred, whether based on racism or based on sectarianism.’’

Stormont Agriculture Minister Brid Rodgers of the SDLP said that following a summer of sectarianism in Belfast, Dr Reid was right to tackle the problem head on and declare it illegal.

The Upper Bann MLA added: ‘‘The law alone, however, will not solve this problem.

‘‘We must all redouble our efforts to tackle this issue if we are ever to create the new society we all want.

‘‘We must also recognise that sectarianism is present in all of us - Catholic and Protestant, nationalist and unionist, wealthy and poor, young and old, male and female.’’

Alliance justice spokesman Stephen Farry, whose party called for hate crimes legislation in Northern Ireland at their April 2000 conference, said he was looking forward to studying the government’s proposals.

‘‘This should be part of a wider examination of how the public sector can tackle sectarianism and racism in society,’’ he said.

‘‘At this time of rising lawlessness on the streets, it is vital that the message is sent out that sectarian and racial attacks will not be tolerated.’’

Workers Party chairman John Lowry said they had also campaigned for the criminalisation of sectarianism.

But the government needed to go further.

‘‘It must actively promote measures that encourage integration in the political, educational, housing and social spheres,’’ Mr Lowry said.