Allister Visits Newtownards Road
17 January 2013
TUV leader Jim Allister spent this afternoon visiting residents on the Lower Newtownards Road and in Cluan Place accompanied by East Belfast TUV chairman Harry Toan.
Commenting on the visit Mr Allister said:
“Many of the people who spoke to me expressed a feeling of abandonment. Incredible as it may seem, the First Minister - or indeed any of the DUP MLAs for East Belfast - seem not to have been seen in the area since the trouble broke out.
“It is evident that – contrary to what Sinn Fein/IRA would have us believe – the trouble is not all one sided with some local people even forced to improvise means to prevent their windows being put in as a result of objects being thrown from the Short Strand.
“I also heard many express annoyance about the imbalance in the policing approach, with those accused of troublemaking on the Loyalist side pursued aggressively while no appreciable, detectable attempt is made to stop attacks from within Short Strand.
“The disconnect which seems to be emerging between at least some in the Unionist community and the PSNI is deeply worrying and something which needs to be addressed urgently. This is an issue which I have raised with the Chief Constable."
Note - issued 16/01/2013
