Unionists challenged to use influence to bring Banbridge attacks to an end
Sinn Féin Banbridge Councillor Dessie Ward has challenged newly elected MP
for
Upper Bann David Simpson to use whatever influence he may have to bring
sectarian
threats and attacks on the Nationalist community in Banbridge to
an end.
His
call follows the appearance of threatening graffiti directed at him that
appeared
in Banbridge town centre. Graffitti about Cllr Ward has also been
daubed
on the two Catholic churches in the town along with a vitriolic
attack
on the pope.
Cllr. Ward commented:
"These incidents
follow on from a recent petrol-bomb attack on my home by
Unionists who
have been engaged in similar activity in the town for many
years now.
Unfortunately Unionist councillors on Banbridge District Council
are in
denial about these attacks and are instead attempting to attribute
them
to the fact that the Banbridge District Council area now has a sitting
Sinn
Fein Councillor.
"Any objective commentator would admit that
these attacks on the Nationalist
community have been part and parcel of
life in Banbridge during the summer
months for many years now. This has
included people being evicted from their
homes by Unionist
paramilitaries, pipe-bomb attacks, paint-bomb attacks and
many young
nationalists have been beaten up on their way home from the
various
night spots in the town.
"It is no longer acceptable for Unionist
councillors to try and brush this
sectarian campaign under the carpet.
There is an onus and a duty on these
same councillors, and of course
the newly elected MP for the constituency
David Simpson, to show
leadership and to speak out and unequivocally condemn
these threats and
attacks and more importantly to use their influence to
bring them to an
end." ENDS