UVF blamed for threats to Cantrell Close Catholic families

By David Young, Press Association

Loyalist paramilitaries have been blamed for threatening four Catholic families from a mixed housing development in Belfast.

Cantrell Close, off the Ravenhill Road in the south of the city, was supposed to be a flagship cross-community development as part of the Stormont Executive's Together Building United Communities programme.

But four families in the social housing development have now reported themselves homeless to the Housing Executive, claiming they have been the victim of sectarian intimidation.

Assembly members have blamed the UVF.

In the summer the development was hit with another controversy when loyalist paramilitary flags were erected on lamp posts.

Assembly member Mairtin O Muilleoir said the east Belfast UVF was behind the intimidation.

He said the police had made the families aware of the paramilitary threats.

"This blatant sectarianism has no place in our society and should be condemned outright," said the Sinn Fein MLA.

"This is meant to be a shared neighbourhood and it is completely unacceptable that people are being intimidated by the UVF in this day and age.

"Some residents raised concerns with me earlier in the year when UVF and other flags went up around the development.

"They felt that this would heighten tensions in the area and Catholics in the area were fearful before the summer.

"People in the area are also very worried that the UVF were able to go about their activity in this manner.

"We need voices from within unionism to speak out and show leadership. We also need the authorities to take a stand against sectarianism in order to tackle this issue adequately."

DUP MP for South Belfast Emma Little Pengelly and party MLA Christopher Stalford issued a joint statement condemning the threats.

"It is absolutely disgraceful that anyone should be threatened from their home," they said.

"This area has traditionally been welcoming to all and those responsible do not represent the area. It must be condemned by everyone.

"Those behind this intimidation must be identified and face the courts. Anyone with information should contact the police and ensure those responsible face the full weight of the law."

A Housing Executive spokesman said: "A number of families in the South Belfast area have presented to us as homeless claiming sectarian intimidation."

PSNI Chief Superintendent Chris Noble declined to confirm who officers believed may have been behind the threats, but he said the paramilitary task force was involved in the investigation.

"There's an active investigation, we're working with the paramilitary task force to understand who is behind it," he said.

"We don't want to speculate about which organisation is behind this.

"Whoever it is has no regard whatsoever for what the people of east Belfast want in terms of a community working together and without division.

"My key appeal and what we need to progress this investigation is information.
"Whether it comes through the 101 hotline to detectives in Musgrave Street, or the Crimestoppers number 0800 555 111.

"The key bits of information which will allow us to break the case and bring people to justice, hopefully are already out there and are in the minds of people who are listening to me talking now."