Alliance Councillors Michael Long and Eric Hanvey have said they are disgusted after reports of a loyalist paramilitary threat which forced a Catholic mother and her three children to leave the Cregagh estate.

The media reports state the woman, originally from West Belfast, was told the UVF and UDA had put her entire family under threat due to her religion. The PSNI has confirmed it is investigating the threat.

“It is absolutely disgusting in this day and age we have anyone, never mind a single mother-of-three, being intimidated out of an area, for nothing other than the ‘crime’ of being a different religion to the majority of people there,” said Councillor Long.

“We are in the 21st Century – the poison of paramilitarism should no longer be infecting our society. I call on those who purport to represent these groups and others to come out and condemn this in the strongest possible terms. Everyone has the right to feel safe and secure in their own home, and the victims have my full support.”

“This is not reflective of the vast majority of Cregagh, which is an open and welcoming community. We will be speaking directly to the PSNI and other agencies to seek clarification on what is being done to seek out those responsible, and what is being done to support this family,” said Councillor Hanvey.

“I urge anyone with information on this to contact police with it immediately.”