Sinn Féin’s Housing Spokesperson Caral Ní Chuílín has called for a full investigation into the sectarian intimidation of those in urgent need of housing in North Belfast.

The North Belfast MLA also said the origin of threats made against Catholics allocated the houses and must form a part of this investigation.

Caral Ní Chuílín said:

“Homes allocated to Catholic families in the Ballysillan area have been the target of a series of sectarian hate crime attacks over recent days.

“These attacks were clearly intended to terrify and intimidate people who were in urgent need of a home they are entitled to.

“This is an organised campaign of intimidation by criminal and paramilitary elements to prevent Catholics from accessing housing in North Belfast.

“The PSNI has a duty to fully investigate these attacks and those responsible for the dissemination of these threats.

“We also need to hear loud and clear from the DUP what ‘issue’ it had about the allocation of these homes and what its view is on the nakedly sectarian intimidation of a family of four in the mouth of a Christmas.

“These attacks come hard on the heels of a loyalist campaign of attacks on the democratic process in the north Belfast and a failure of leadership by the DUP. 

“It’s simply not good enough for the DUP to remain tight lipped in the face of these vile sectarian hate crimes.”