Campaign against intimidation gains momentum

The campaign against “murder, intimidation and sectarianism” will be heard fervently across Northern Ireland on Friday January 18 as a number of rallies, organised by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, take place.

The amount of support garnered by the campaign was typified in local newspapers on Thursday when the NASUWT advertised a statement condemning the recent death threats issued by loyalist paramilitaries during the past week.

Part of the statement, which was agreed at an emergency meeting of the NASUWT on Monday January 14, said: “Schools throughout the troubled history of the last number of years have provided stability and security whilst these qualities have been often sadly absent in the other sectors of civil society.

“Endangering that security by such threats is an act of madness which could have severe consequences for the children and young people we teach.

“We reject all attempts to split us into separate camps and we reiterate our absolute determination to work together for the good of education which can only prosper if teachers can teach and pupils learn in an atmosphere free from terror and intimidation.”

The demonstrations, which take place at 1pm in Belfast, Enniskillen, Londonderry, Omagh and Newry, come despite the death threat by loyalists being lifted. (MB)