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| Belfast union flag row: councillor forced to flee home after threats | Belfast union flag row: councillor forced to flee home after threats |
| (8 days later) | |
| A young councillor in Northern Ireland has been forced to flee her home because of Ulster loyalist threats against her for voting to reverse the policy of flying the union flag at Belfast city hall 365 days a year. | A young councillor in Northern Ireland has been forced to flee her home because of Ulster loyalist threats against her for voting to reverse the policy of flying the union flag at Belfast city hall 365 days a year. |
| After a night of violence in the city, Alliance councillor Laura McNamee, 27, said she believed hardline loyalists who abused her on Facebook are linked to the Ulster Volunteer Force in east Belfast and were picketing her party's constituency headquarters in the east of the city. | After a night of violence in the city, Alliance councillor Laura McNamee, 27, said she believed hardline loyalists who abused her on Facebook are linked to the Ulster Volunteer Force in east Belfast and were picketing her party's constituency headquarters in the east of the city. |
| McNamee and several party colleagues have been warned of threats against them by a new extremist loyalist faction enraged over Belfast city council's decision on Monday night to only allow the union flag to be flown for up to 20 designated days. | McNamee and several party colleagues have been warned of threats against them by a new extremist loyalist faction enraged over Belfast city council's decision on Monday night to only allow the union flag to be flown for up to 20 designated days. |
| The 29-21 vote in favour of changing the flag-flying policy provoked a riot in the grounds of city hall that left 15 police officers injured, at least one council security guard hurt, and an Associated Press photographer beaten over the head by a police baton. | The 29-21 vote in favour of changing the flag-flying policy provoked a riot in the grounds of city hall that left 15 police officers injured, at least one council security guard hurt, and an Associated Press photographer beaten over the head by a police baton. |
| Peter Morrison, the photographer caught up in clashes between police and around 1,000 loyalists, has claimed he was ignored when he told riot squad officers he was a member of the media. | Peter Morrison, the photographer caught up in clashes between police and around 1,000 loyalists, has claimed he was ignored when he told riot squad officers he was a member of the media. |
| McNamee said she was too frightened to return to her house in the Sydenham area near Belfast city airport. The Police Service of Northern Ireland had warned her she and other councillors from the centrist non-sectarian Allliance party were under threat. | McNamee said she was too frightened to return to her house in the Sydenham area near Belfast city airport. The Police Service of Northern Ireland had warned her she and other councillors from the centrist non-sectarian Allliance party were under threat. |
| The loyalists opposed to any change in the flag policy are targeting prominent Alliance members because the party holds the balance of power on the council. It was their compromise motion – that the union flag would be still be flown on top of city hall on days such as the Queen's birthday – that led to the union flag no longer being a permanent fixture on the council building. | The loyalists opposed to any change in the flag policy are targeting prominent Alliance members because the party holds the balance of power on the council. It was their compromise motion – that the union flag would be still be flown on top of city hall on days such as the Queen's birthday – that led to the union flag no longer being a permanent fixture on the council building. |
| "The police have told me not to go home until further notice. It is a horrible feeling but as a public representative you expect a backlash but only in terms of politics, not physical threats. They [the police] had us on a high alert from the weekend," McNamee said. | "The police have told me not to go home until further notice. It is a horrible feeling but as a public representative you expect a backlash but only in terms of politics, not physical threats. They [the police] had us on a high alert from the weekend," McNamee said. |
| "I don't want to be indimiated but I am not stupid because I live on my own and if they are determined enough who knows what they would do? I really don't know when and if I can go back to my house as itt's important to feel safe in your own home," she said." | "I don't want to be indimiated but I am not stupid because I live on my own and if they are determined enough who knows what they would do? I really don't know when and if I can go back to my house as itt's important to feel safe in your own home," she said." |
| The Alliance representative, who was elected to council two years ago, said she has been told members of the militant East Belfast Battalion of the UVF were orchestrating the violence and the intimidation. | The Alliance representative, who was elected to council two years ago, said she has been told members of the militant East Belfast Battalion of the UVF were orchestrating the violence and the intimidation. |
| She confirmed that it was "highly unlikey" she could retunt to her home for the foreseeable future and would spend Christmas elsewhere. | She confirmed that it was "highly unlikey" she could retunt to her home for the foreseeable future and would spend Christmas elsewhere. |
| McNamee added: "In the days before the riot at City Hall there has been a Facebook campaign and one man messaged me to say that they were going to hold a protest outside my address in Syndenham. My address is not public but the fact that they referenced Sydenham means they have my address. Certainly it made these threats very personal." | McNamee added: "In the days before the riot at City Hall there has been a Facebook campaign and one man messaged me to say that they were going to hold a protest outside my address in Syndenham. My address is not public but the fact that they referenced Sydenham means they have my address. Certainly it made these threats very personal." |
| While condemning the violence outside city hall on Monday evening, mainstream unionist politicians have continued their verbal onslaught on the Alliance party. | While condemning the violence outside city hall on Monday evening, mainstream unionist politicians have continued their verbal onslaught on the Alliance party. |
| Lord Empey, a former Ulster Unionist minister, in a previous power-sharing executive described the Alliance as "a delivery system for the advancement of Sinn Féin's anti-British strategy". The UUP peer added: "David Ford [the Alliance leader] described the vote last night as a victory for the Alliance party. Heaven help us if Mr Ford considers the removal of the Union flag as a victory! Not even Sinn Féin has gone that far." | Lord Empey, a former Ulster Unionist minister, in a previous power-sharing executive described the Alliance as "a delivery system for the advancement of Sinn Féin's anti-British strategy". The UUP peer added: "David Ford [the Alliance leader] described the vote last night as a victory for the Alliance party. Heaven help us if Mr Ford considers the removal of the Union flag as a victory! Not even Sinn Féin has gone that far." |
| This latest intimidation campaign directed against the Alliance party means it is now being targeted by extremes of both republicanism and loyalism. Earlier this year supporters of dissident republican prisoners picketed the Alliance's main headquarters in Belfast's University district. | This latest intimidation campaign directed against the Alliance party means it is now being targeted by extremes of both republicanism and loyalism. Earlier this year supporters of dissident republican prisoners picketed the Alliance's main headquarters in Belfast's University district. |
| Later dissident republicans smeared excrement over the front of the Alliance office as a reminder of a dirty protest by the Continuity IRA and other republican prisoners inside Maghaberry top security prison. As justice minister, Ford is responsible for Northern Ireland's prisons. | Later dissident republicans smeared excrement over the front of the Alliance office as a reminder of a dirty protest by the Continuity IRA and other republican prisoners inside Maghaberry top security prison. As justice minister, Ford is responsible for Northern Ireland's prisons. |
| Monday's riot at city hall, which spilled over to a sectarian interface in east Belfast, where Catholic homes and a church were attacked, has again illuminated the deep sectarian divisions in the city despite power-sharing and the peace process. | Monday's riot at city hall, which spilled over to a sectarian interface in east Belfast, where Catholic homes and a church were attacked, has again illuminated the deep sectarian divisions in the city despite power-sharing and the peace process. |
| Northern Ireland's Community Relations Council (CRC) warned on Tuesday night about the wider dangers of disputes about issues such as flags. | Northern Ireland's Community Relations Council (CRC) warned on Tuesday night about the wider dangers of disputes about issues such as flags. |
| Tony McCusker, the CRC chairman, said: "It is clear from the angry response last night that more work needs to be done to ensure this is fully understood. The building of a shared society will need all political and civic leaders to make clear there will no turning back to the violent behaviour of the past." | Tony McCusker, the CRC chairman, said: "It is clear from the angry response last night that more work needs to be done to ensure this is fully understood. The building of a shared society will need all political and civic leaders to make clear there will no turning back to the violent behaviour of the past." |
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