ti-Catholic posters ``understandable'' - MP
By Eoin O'Broin
Sinn Féin councillor for South Belfast, Sean Hayes, has accused
Unionist MP for the area, Martin Smyth, of ``implicitly supporting
loyalists engaged in an anti-Catholic witch hunt'' in the Village
area of the city.
Hayes made his accusation after Smyth described a poster campaign
threatening Catholics as ``understandable''.
The poster states that ``the Loyalist people of the
Village/Donegall Road have tolerated long enough the Nationalist
Scum that have flooded the area in recent years''.
The poster also berates Protestant residents for being
``complacent regarding who their neighbours are'' and states: ``In
this current political climate it is unwise to have a Nationalist
as a neighbour and even worse to befriend one''.
It concludes: ``In the light of events, as from 12 noon on the 1st
July 1997 the Loyalist people of the Village/Donegall Road will
no longer be able to guarantee the safety of any Nationalist who
chooses to remain within the area, nor can they guarantee the
safety of any property where Nationalists are dwelling''.
Responding to the appearance of the posters, Gerry Adams said,
``This is a very serious development which has significantly
heightened tensions in that area and which will be felt right
across Belfast.
``There is an onerous responsibility on the Unionist and loyalist
parties to take a public stand against these sectarian threats.''
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