Education Minister criticised for meeting with loyalist group

By Jonathan McCambridge (PA)

Stormont’s Education Minister Paul Givan has faced criticism for meeting with a group which represents loyalist paramilitaries.

A statement from the Loyalist Communities Council (LCC) saying that it had advised Mr Givan that a proposal to build an Irish language school in east Belfast should be stopped has been described as “outrageous” by Sinn Fein MP John Finucane.

The LCC, chaired by David Campbell, is an umbrella group which represents the Ulster Volunteer Force, Ulster Defence Association and Red Hand Commando.

A spokesperson for the Department of Education said the meeting had been arranged at the LCC’s request and had discussed educational underachievement in loyalist areas.

Mr Finucane said reports of their meeting with the minister on Tuesday were “deeply concerning”.

He added: “Belfast City Council has already approved temporary plans to build a new nursery, soft play and primary school facilities to host Bunscoil na Seolta, and that should move forward without delay.

“The Irish language is thriving across our society and record numbers of our children and young people are being educated through the medium of Irish with more and more demand on our local Gaelscoilanna.

“It’s outrageous that a group which includes representatives of loyalist gangs are attempting to influence decisions about our children’s future and right to be educated through the language of their choice.”

Mr Finucane said: “The Education Minister must make it clear that his department rejects this outrageous demand and that work will continue to progress on delivering this facility.”

Former Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie posted on X, formerly Twitter, that he did not believe the stance taken by the LCC “represents the majority view of the loyalist community”.

Alliance Party education spokesperson Nick Mathison said: “The LCC is an umbrella organisation for active paramilitary groups and organisations such as this should have absolutely no place when it comes to decision-making over the education of our children.

“Questions must be asked about the minister’s judgement in this case.

“He should be seeking to remove all paramilitary influence over our children and young people, rather than giving their views a platform.”

A spokesperson for the Department of Education said: “Paul Givan, Education Minister, met with the LCC to discuss a range of issues relating to education underachievement in loyalist areas and undertook to share information on DE’s (Department of Education) RAISE programme and other relevant initiatives.

“The meeting was arranged at the request of the LCC.”

Belfast City Council gave planning permission for the proposed temporary nursery and primary school and soft play area in June.

Stormont education minister Paul Givan met the LCC on Tuesday (Liam McBurney/PA)