Long blasts sectarian thugs who forced woman out of her East Belfast home

Alliance Deputy Leader and East Belfast MLA Naomi Long has slammed those who intimidated a woman out of her East Belfast home because of her religion. The woman who was interviewed on BBC Radio Ulster’s Nolan Show, had been living on Lord Street before she was forced to leave. Naomi Long stated that polarisation and segregation had actually increased since the ceasefires.

Naomi Long MLA said: “I was appalled to hear of the sectarian intimidation that forced this woman out of her home. People from every background should be free to live in peace anywhere they wish to.

“Many people assume that this type of incident is a thing of the past. Sadly it is not, and people from all sides of the community in Northern Ireland still face sectarian harassment.

“The harsh reality is that since the ceasefires, there is even more polarisation in our housing than there was in the 70s and 80s.

“We need to see the Executive doing more to break down barriers and end segregation. Recently an OFMDFM Deloitte report illustrated that around £1.5 billion is wasted every year on maintaining division. There are not only social, but also financial benefits to breaking down the Berlin Wall of segregation which still exists here.”

ENDS