21 February 2005

McAleese cancels Shankill Road visit

Irish President Mary McAleese has cancelled plans to visit Belfast’s Shankill Road later this week.

It is believed her decision was made following unionist outrage at comments made by the Belfast-born President when she claimed that some Northern Ireland children were taught to hate Catholics in the same way Nazis despised Jews.

President McAleese had been due to go to Edenbrooke Primary School during a visit to Belfast on Thursday however a recent joint statement by the DUP, UUP and PUP called on her to cancel her visit.

Today’s decision was immediately welcomed by two leading Ulster Unionist representatives in the area.

North Belfast Assembly member Fred Cobain said he was glad to see that “common sense” has prevailed.

“I think it is now important for all involved to step back and take a more circumspect and considered view,” he said.

“I am sure that, given time, a visit of this kind can go ahead in the future.”

West Belfast councillor Chris McGimpsey described the decision as a “sensible”.

“While now is not the right time, I am sure that the people of the Shankill would be happy to receive Mrs McAleese when it is more appropriate to do so,” he said.

A spokesperson for the President said she was still planning on coming to Belfast where is expected to meet staff and patients at Belfast City Hospital, deliver the O'Connell Lecture at St Malachy's College and visit the Hannahstown area of west Belfast.

President McAleese’s remarks were made in an interview on RTÉ's Morning Ireland programme last month shortly before attending ceremonies marking the 60th anniversary of the Auschwitz liberation.

She later apologised for the comments saying she was "deeply sorry".

(MB/SP)