Families under loyalist attack meet Cowen
Sinn Féin North Belfast Assembly member Gerry Kelly and families
who have suffered from loyalist pipe-bomb attacks and
intimidation met the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Brian Cowen,
at Iveagh House in Dublin last Thursday, 8 February. After the
meeting, Kelly said:
I
``There is a concerted sectarian campaign across the North to
drive Catholic families out of some areas. They have reached a
particular intensity in North Belfast and Larne. Over several
weeks have seen some 50 attacks - mostly carried out by the UDA -
and there is no sign of them abating. This is a pogrom, designed
to drive Catholics out, heighten tensions and undermine the
political and peace process.
``Minister Brian Cowen today heard at first hand the human cost of
these attacks - what it is like to live under threat of being
killed in these pipe-bomb attacks and the impact of this
situation on their familles.
``These families live in constant fear, morning, noon and night,
not just for themselves but for their children. They fear that
their children could suffer then same fate as the Quinn children
who were killed in a bomb attack on their home during the
Drumcree protests.
``It must be remembered that these are Irish citizens under threat
and under attack from loyalist death squads created and
infiltrated by British Military Intelligence.
``We have asked the Irish Government to use whatever influence
they have to help bring an end to these attacks. We also proposed
a number of practical measures in relation to people's safety
which we are glad to see the minister take on board.
``The minister expressed serious concern about what is happening
and he has undertaken to bring it to the top of the agenda in his
talks with the British Secretary of State at the first possible
opportunity.''
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