Attacks on north Belfast homes ‘mass attempt to cleanse area’

Sectarian attacks on homes in north Belfast are “a mass attempt at cleansing of an area”, a housing association has said.

Masonry was thrown at properties in Annalee Street and Alloa Street last Wednesday and on Friday some residents said they planned to leave their homes.

A multi-agency meeting was held on Tuesday as efforts continue to ensure the safety of a number of families.

Pol Callaghan, of Clanmil Housing Association, which operates the mixed housing scheme, said the attacks are a “sectarian motivated hate crime” and those who have been targeted “would be perceived of being from a Catholic nationalist background”.

Mr Callaghan said the attacks is “behaviour en masse which is reminiscent of what we had thought we had left behind”.

“We cannot accept that there’s part of this city where anyone should not be able to live because of their perceived race, religion or anything else,” he told BBC Radio Ulster’s Good Morning Ulster.

“Whatever happens in this one street, in Annalee Street, over the next few days and weeks, there are significant lessons that have to be learned, either in terms of the future of this street or elsewhere, because we can’t afford to set a precedent here.

“We have people who are sleeping in homes today who are literally in fear of their lives.”

Mr Callaghan said Clanmil want everyone allocated a house in the scheme to stay long-term, but understood that some people are very fearful and have said they don’t want to return to their homes.

“We are going to have to reflect on how we are going to manage the scheme over the next while,” he said.

“We need to have a genuine inter-agency approach to dealing with this issue, because the situation as it currently stands cannot be allowed to stay.”

On Tuesday, Justice Minister Naomi Long said the “sickening attacks are a reminder of a dark past and are carried out by those who wish to continue controlling the communities they purport to serve.

“It is unthinkable that young mothers are being forced to leave their homes, and I call on those responsible to desist now.”

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said they have stepped up patrols in the area.

Sinn Féin’s North Belfast MP John Finucane said there was a “sinister and organised element” to the sectarian attacks on homes in the Annalee Street and Alloa Street areas.

“This threat needs to be withdrawn immediately,” Finucane said.

Independent councillor Paul McCusker said Tuesday’s meeting had been very difficult for residents.

“The families who have been there since Wednesday are not able to sleep, are not eating, it is having a massive negative impact on their lives,” he said.

He said many residents felt “communication hasn’t been great between police and residents” adding there was a feeling police had not been “supportive enough”.

Police said they are “focused on keeping the residents safe, and are providing enhanced patrols in the area as we work towards a resolution in conjunction with our community partners”.

Tuesday’s meeting had given police “the opportunity to listen to residents’ legitimate concerns,” Ch Insp Patrick Mullan said.