Dublin Sinn Fein representative visits Short Strand

A Sinn Fein representative in the Dail was meeting members of a riot-stricken Belfast community today in a bid to pressurise Downing Street into acting against the violence.

Aengus O'Snodaigh was set to meet nationalist residents in east Belfast’s Short Strand and was set to call for a delegation from the Dail to follow him later in the year.

The Dublin South Central representative will compile a report for the Government appealing to them to call on Downing Street to protect nationalist residents who claim to be under siege from loyalists.

The interface area has been the scene of some of the worst sectarian violence in recent months with repeated rioting and each side blaming the other for the trouble.

Mr O'Snodaigh told PA News: “I am going to see for myself exactly what the situation there is and report back to the Irish Government and to other deputies and see if they will send a delegation of TDs and Senators there.”

Mr O'Snodaigh was called to the Short Strand by residents’ groups: “Some of the houses people are living in are totally boarded up because they are under constant attack,” he said.

“They are also looking for basic services because many services are outside the Short Strand area (in loyalist communities),” he added.

As well as calling for better living conditions for nationalist residents Mr O'Snodaigh will also examine how the police and Army have responded to rioting.

And he claimed that British government promises to end the violence had been fruitless: “I have not seen any result of what they have done,” he said.

He added: “They (the Irish Government) should put more pressure on the British Government and First Minister David Trimble to deliver on this issue.”

Mr O'Snodaigh will meet residents throughout the day and speak to reporters at the community centre at 3pm.