Election workers threatened
Two Sinn Féin election workers feared for their safety when they were subjected to sectarian abuse by loyalists in Mullaghglass, Co Antrim. The incident took place on Friday 1 June, when the electoral workers were intimidated into leaving by a group of loyalists who called for reinforcements on a mobile phone. Over 500 Sinn Féin electoral posters have also been removed from the area.
Last week, Jeffrey Donaldson accused Sinn Fein of stirring up trouble by placing an election poster in the grounds of Dunmurray Orange Hall. Councillor Butler dismissed the accusation. ``We clearly stated last week that our posters shouldn't have been placed there and we had nothing to do with it,'' said Butler, ``but this isolated incident pales into insignificance compared to the persistant intimidation of our workers and the removal of Sinn Féin posters by unionist and loyalist bully boys.''
Butler also told An Phoblacht that recent video footage recorded by a local man has shown the ease with which loyalists can operate in Dunmurry.
Said Butler: ``Last weekend a resident videotaped gangs of loyalists in the area as they roamed about with pickaxe handles and cudgels. The loyalists were out to cause trouble and yet the RUC, in a two-Land Rover patrol, drove past them and failed to intervene. When challenged about this the RUC claimed they only had a patrol car with two people in it on duty at the time.''
Butler said the UDA has been behind a campaign of mass intimidation against nationalists over the years in which residents and their homes have been attacked. ``Catholic businesses have also been targeted to such a degree that there is only one Catholic business left in the village.''
The resident who taped the loyalist activity and who has lived in the area for 20 years told the media: ``The people of this area are fed up with the constant intimidation in an area that is devoid of any proper policing. Many of the houses in Dunmurray have panic buttons and cameras installed. As well as that parents living here with teenage children are afraid to let them out. Every week a Catholic teenager is attacked in this area and it is only a matter of time before someone is killed.''
``The situation locally has become untenable,'' says Paul Butler. ``The campaign of orchestrated attacks on Catholics in Dunmurray is down to a very heavy UDA presence in the area. The RUC are aware of this but have done nothing to stop it.''
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