TDs get first hand account of sectarian attacks

A North Antrim local authority must stop using public funds to finance Protestant marching season bonfires, it was claimed today.

Sinn Féin councillor Monica Digney said that Ballymena Borough Council currently uses revenue from ratepayers to pay for prizes awarded for the best local bonfires during July 12 events.

Cllr Digney, who won the first-ever Sinn Féin seat on the DUP-dominated council in May, was part of a delegation of North Antrim residents who today visited Dáil TDs to highlight sectarian attacks in local nationalist aras.

She said in Dublin: “Even nationalist rate-payers have to currently fund prizes like £350 (€516) for the best bonfire and so on down the line.”

She complained that nationalists still cannot attend their local Catholic churches on Sundays and urged North Antrim unionist leaders to strongly condemn all sectarian attacks.

The five-member delegation of residents met a group of TDs and Senators before holding talks with Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern.

Farmer and school caretaker Liam O’Neill from Ahoghill said two local estates both had about 40 nationalist families 20 years ago, but they were now all driven out due to intimidation.

He added: “If kids miss the school bus in the morning, they’re afraid to walk to school through certain areas.

He told TDs: “You’re very lucky not to live in North Antrim. We can’t bring up our children there.”

Another resident, who asked not to be named, said he telephoned the PSNI when he witnessed loyalist youths throwing eggs at local schoolgirls one day.

He went on: “I waited at the scene for 45 minutes and nobody came. I was at home when I eventually got a call back from an officer about two-and-a-half hours later.”

Fianna Fáil Senator Camillus Glynn said: “This shatters the myth of an impartial police force.”

Sinn Féin’s North Antrim MLA Philip McGuigan, who recently compiled a dossier of local sectarian attacks on nationalists between June and September, said: “People can only get the leadership of those they elect and at the moment, unionists leaders are not offering positive leadership.”

He said DUP leader the Rev Ian Paisley no longer had excuses not to engage with nationalist politicians after IRA decommissioning.

“He needs to be constantly challenged on the issue of sectarian attacks now,” he added.

Fianna Fáil Senator Jim Walsh told the residents at today’s meeting: “Sectarianism is a huge cancer in society and only serves to further polarise people.”

“There must be a zero tolerance attitude to sectarian attacks among police and politicians,” Independent TD Finian McGrath commented.

He added: “It’s not just a Northern Ireland issue. It’s a national, all-island issue.”

Fianna Fáil Senator Labhras O Murchu blamed escalating sectarian attacks on a "conspiracy of silence" among the media and politicians.

Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghin O Caolain criticised Fine Gael and Labour for not meeting the North Antrim residents.

Seanad leader Mary O’Rourke, who attended the meeting, said she would raise the issue with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern when he speaks on Northern Ireland issues in the Seanad tomorrow.