North Belfast pensioners receive threatening letters

A number of pensioners in North Belfast have received threatening letters in connection with the ongoing loyalist protest at the Holy Cross Primary School.

It is believed that seven of the threatening letters from the “North Belfast Catholic Reaction Force” were distributed to Protestant pensioners. The letters warned: “Stop the protest at Holy Cross school or you will be targeted by the North Belfast Catholic Reaction Force”.

One Belfast pensioner 76-year-old Peggy Kirk was distraught as she described opening the letter. She said that it would “put your head away” and that people did not want this sort of trouble.

The threatening letters came to light following talks held in Stormont on Tuesday evening between Ardoyne residents and community representatives from the affected area. The talks broke up without agreement on the long-running dispute between the communities, which at times has spilled over into fierce street battles with police seeking to keep the divided communities apart.

Although, no comments were forthcoming after the talks it is expected that further meetings will be held in an attempt to find some sort of accommodation between the parties involved.

SDLP representatives Alban Maginness and Pat Convery scheduled a meeting with Security Minister Jane Kenendy.

The dispute centres on loyalist protests outside the Catholic girls Holy Cross primary school. Loyalists claim that the protests are to highlight Republican attacks in the Glenbryn area. (SP)