NI leaders urged to support families 'living in fear' of sectarian attacks

The first and deputy first ministers have been urged to publicly condemn sectarian attacks on homes in north Belfast.

Independent councillor Paul McCusker, who has written to Michelle O'Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly, said they need to "come out, show commitment and get behind these families".

TUV councillor Ron McDowell said local residents are living in "terror and fear".

It comes after masonry was thrown at properties in Annalee Street and Alloa Street on Wednesday.

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

On Friday, a number of residents said they planned to leave their homes.

McDowell said those targeted were "young girls in their early 20s with babies in their arms".

"When they say their houses have been attacked - there are no windows in their homes – they are completely boarded up with a threat of a repeat visit," he added.

McDowell said there was an issue with police resources in north-west Belfast.

"I don't doubt that the police are doing what they can – they stepped up yesterday and pledged more – they now have the alarms that people can press - but they don't appear to have the resources to deal with this adequately," he added.

He said there was a high density of peace walls in the area.

"There is a lot of insecurity around community displacement – there are predators within the community within paramilitary gangs who would play on the fears of the local inhabitants, who are protective of homes for their own people and their children," he said.

"This has been a minority group of Catholic houses that have been targeted in a predominantly unionist area.

"Incidents along the peace line are nothing new though they don't often get reported - they go on for months and it can be a living hell for people in those areas."

Following a meeting between the affected families, police and community representatives on Sunday, McCusker said most families want to stay, but "no one can guarantee their safety".

McCusker called for the NI Executive to intervene and for the first and deputy first ministers to "come out and call this out for what it is".

Speaking to BBC News NI on Monday, he said: "North Belfast is one of the most divided parts of Belfast, and a lot more work needs to done to ensure that people regardless if you're Catholic or Protestant or whatever religion you are, that you're entitled to live in a safe home in any community."

He added: "It's a massive big upheaval in anybody's life, particularly if you're homeless for eight years to then get a new house and then to be treated this way is just shocking."

He said the sectarian attacks are "becoming more of a problem here in north Belfast" and are "not being reported enough".

"And we're aware of other families in recent months this has happened to as well and we need that commitment from first minister and deputy first minister to actually to come out, show commitment and get behind these families."

Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) MLA for the area, Brian Kingston, described the attack as "appalling" and said it "must be condemned in the strongest possible terms".

"Residents who wish to move on need to be given every support, and those that wish to stay need to be also supported to remain living in these new homes," he told BBC News NI.

He said he does not know what has "triggered" the attacks.

"This is a predominantly unionist area, this is 10 new social homes by Clanmil Housing Association.

"This is an area which sadly regularly suffers from sectarian attacks.

"I've attended many incidents in this community where republicans have attacked homes at the interface and there are ongoing incidents of youths coming up through the Girdwood site and carrying out attacks on homes and cars."

Kingston said "this is an area which experiences interface issues" and that "community relations need to be sensitively handled".

The PSNI has been contacted for a response.

PSNI Supt Allister Hagan said that patrols of areas of north Belfast have been "stepped up" following reports of sectarian-motivated hate crimes.

"In addition, we have been meeting with residents regularly to listen to their concerns and offer practical support," Supt Hagan added.

Clanmil Housing said it has been on site over the weekend.

In a statement, a spokesperson said: "Some families have left their homes at this time, and we have provided alternative temporary accommodation where needed.

"We absolutely condemn the continued and unprovoked threat to families living peacefully in their homes. Everyone should be allowed to live safely in their home, free from any type of intimidation or threat."

The NI Executive office has been contacted for comment.