Irish Republican News · August 31, 2004

Trouble in north Belfast

There has been a marked increase in sectarian attacks in north Belfast in recent days.

On Saturday, there was a stand-off between nationalists and loyalists on the Whitewell Road following a Protestant parade. It followed reports of a reported attack on three Protestant bandsmen on the nearby Shore Road earlier in the day.

This weekend, 28 loyalist bands are due to take part in another parade in the area.

Meanwhile, the UDA have been blamed for damage caused to a community centre in the Torrens estate on Sunday night.

The PSNI police appeared to allow a group of the unionist paramilitaries to remove computer equipment from the centre, before windows were broken in the building.

The estate has effectively been abandoned after a number of Protestant families left their homes in the area, claiming they were the victims of republican attacks.

Appealing for calm, Sinn Féin’s Gerry Kelly condemned the weekend attacks.

“There have been sectarian attacks on both sides and I totally condemn them,” he said.

“I don’t care if it’s Protestants or Catholics who are being attacked, it is all wrong.

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