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ALLIANCE PARTY LEADER David Ford has said the Northern Ireland Assembly must be recalled to show it is united in its opposition to recent violence in Antrim and Down targeting elected representatives.
The attacks on Alliance Party offices and members have come amidst protests by people who are opposed to Belfast City Council’s recent decision to stop flying the union flag every day.
The party leader has submitted an urgent motion to the Assembly this morning, following the escalation of attacks last night in which two offices were trashed and and the home of two councillors was attacked.
Ford said attacks on any one political party are attacks on democracy itself and the Assembly must unite to show that it will not be accepted.
Last night four people were arrested in Carrickfergus after protesters attacked an Alliance Party office and threw bottles and missiles at police.
In Bangor, Alliance MLA Stephen Farry confirmed that his constituency office was subject to an attempted arson attack yesterday evening.
“Petrol or some other accelerant was poured over my shutters by a number of people,” he said. “Fortunately, they were interrupted by a passing police patrol and fled the scene.”
The attack coincided with another attack on his colleagues, Alliance Party councillors Christine and Michael Bower whose house was pelted with paint bombs last night.
(Image: Paul Faith/PA Wire)
Today Labour Youth National Chairperson, Aideen Carberry, said the response to the decision on the flag flying by the more extreme elements of those opposed has been “disgraceful”.
“These attacks must be condemned in the strongest way possible by the First Minister, particularly in his role as leader of the largest Unionist party in the Northern Assembly,” she said.
“In recent weeks, several unionist parties have engaged in a campaign of opposition to the change in flag policy that must be seen as playing a role in encouraging public anger.”
She said it is now right that the leaders of unionism condemn those who have brought violence to this debate, which was democratically settled in the chamber of Belfast City Council.
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The last kicks of the Unionist behemoth of violence and bigotry. Every day it fades further in to the past.
As a point of clarification, it is within the lifetime of anyone over 20, that the Unionists could count on about 10’000 loyalist para’s, 37,000 RUC men and reserves and about 17k soldiers. Capable of bringing up to a hundred thousand Orange men out on the streets when even basic rights for their Irish Catholic cohabitants were considered, always backed by random killings and security forces turning a blind eye. When the introduction of an equality act ending discrimination on religious grounds was a major battle. No matter the cost, they got their way.
95% of them have come to accept that the days of keeping Paddy the Pape in his box are well over, and most are glad of that. Same as in Alabama or South Africa it will take a few years to go completely but the back of Unionism has been broken and it has to sit and work with others now.
With all due respect this is the most publicity the alliance party is ever going to get
Iain, with all due respects, do you not support their position, or do you think the violence and thuggery being shown to the only centre party in the North is justified in some morbid reality?
Oh I support their decision. I should have been clearer – In the context of Northern Irish politics they get squeezed and rarely get a mention sadly. That’s all I meant.
That’s just the media agenda that deny The Alliance coverage. In a state built around us and them the third option is ignored.
Like it as not Alliance holds the balance of power on many councils and in the assembly. Also it was Naomi Long who took Peter Robinson’s MP seat, not another Unionist. I would also mention that David Ford was made Justice Minister because no one else could be trusted in that mad house with the Ministry.
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