The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland's cross-community party

 David Ford

Paramilitary threats on Castlereagh community centre justify Alliance stance

6.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 16th Jun 2006

Portrait-yellow: LONG Michael (photography: Allan Leonard)

Alliance Castlereagh Councillor, Michael Long

Castlereagh Alliance Councillor Michael Long has expressed his disgust at a paramilitary attack on a Council-run community centre, and said such actions justify the Alliance Group's stance on links to paramilitary representatives. The centre was broken into and threats made to staff employed by the Council.

Cllr Long, the Alliance Vice Chair, stated: "No matter what the issue or the grievance concerned, it is totally unacceptable to behave in this way. Threats on staff in Council-run premises simply will not be tolerated.

"This appalling incident shows once again that paramilitaries are still active in Castlereagh.

"The Alliance Group in Council will continue to condemn any Unionist hypocrisy on this issue, and this latest episode shows the value of our stance even at local level.

"Democratic parties simply cannot continue to court paramilitary representatives as part of their groups."

It is thought the centre will have to remain closed until the middle of next week.

ENDS

Bookmark this story at: del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg FacebookFacebook redditreddit StumbleUponStumbleUpon
Print this news story.
Previous news story: More ambitious approach needed to tackle childhood obesity: McCarthy (Fri 16th Jun 2006).
Next news story: Efficiency and exuberance make North Coast concert successful (Sun 18th Jun 2006).

Related News Stories:

Mon 22nd Oct 2007:

Alliance condemns threats on Sinn Fein Councillors.

Fri 12th Oct 2007:

Alliance hails fly posting crackdown in Castlereagh.

Thu 23rd Aug 2007:

Deloitte figures vindicate Alliance stance .

Tue 21st Nov 2006:

Alliance warns of quadruple rates whammy for Castlereagh ratepayers.

Wed 15th Nov 2006:

New super councils will hit many Castlereagh ratepayers very hard - Alliance.

Thu 2nd Nov 2006:

Police must name and shame racist paramilitary groups - Alliance.

Wed 20th Sep 2006:

Threats to Irish Diplomat are sickening - Alliance.

Thu 15th Jun 2006:

Alliance delighted at Castlereagh cross-community vote for Deputy Mayor.

Wed 14th Jun 2006:

Alliance refuses to back Ulster Unionists in Castlereagh.

Fri 2nd Dec 2005:

Paramilitary amnesty legislation must now be binned - Alliance.

Thu 1st Dec 2005:

Alliance welcomes Liberal Democrat moves to scrap paramilitary amnesty.

Mon 7th Nov 2005:

Blair missing the point on paramilitary fugitives - Alliance.

Tue 2nd Aug 2005:

Alliance welcomes Fair Trade progress in Castlereagh.

Thu 19th May 2005:

Alliance finally gets Castlereagh Deputy Mayor.

Fri 12th Nov 2004:

Alliance anger at £2.2m SPED spend in Castlereagh.

Thu 21st Oct 2004:

Alliance to raise paramilitary child abuse with IMC.

Tue 18th May 2004:

Alliance condemns murder in Castlereagh.

Wed 31st Mar 2004:

Alliance Welcomes First Sentences for Possessing Paramilitary Flags.

Thu 4th Mar 2004:

Alliance Welcomes First Convictions for Possessing Paramilitary Flags.

Fri 13th Jun 2003:

'Backward-looking' Castlereagh excludes Alliance from Mayor's post--again.

Mon 5th Aug 2002:

Alliance condemns hospital threats.

Tue 25th Jun 2002:

Alliance condemns Castlereagh chairs carve-up.

Related Press Articles:

Fri 22nd Sep 2006:

Alliance plans to solve rates issue: Long [Community Telegraph].

Printed and hosted by Prater Raines Ltd, 82b Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BX.
Published and promoted by The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland, 88 University Street, Belfast, BT7 1HE.
The views expressed are those of the party, not of the service provider.