Alliance Party Councillor, Tom Ekin, has today called for an immediate review of the terms of sentencing for those convicted of riotous behaviour, and said that the gap between a four-month sentence for the offence in Northern Ireland, versus a four-year term in Great Britain, must be closed. Cllr Ekin said: “Given the work that […]
Glengormley Alliance Councillor, Tom Campbell, has expressed sadness that a local Catholic ceremony at Carnmoney cemetery is to be postponed this Sunday in part as a result of recent disturbances. Cllr Campbell said: “It is a basic and fundamental right of any decent society that people should be able to participate freely in their religious […]
The Alliance Party has described the decision of Unionist Councillors in Belfast to withdraw from the DPPs as ‘a complete abdication of responsibility’. Alliance Councillor Tom Campbell said: “To withdraw from participation on district policing partnerships reflects a failure of leadership and a complete abdication of responsibility. To seek to act upon the alleged pretext […]
East Belfast Alliance MLA and member of Belfast District Policing Partnership, Councillor Naomi Long, has criticised Unionist politicians for their decision to withdraw from the DPP in Belfast. She said that the decision was the clearest indication yet that political unionism had chosen not to support law and order and that they were now no […]
After a week in which the leadership of Unionism and the Orange Order has continued to be in denial over events on the streets, Alliance Leader David Ford has made a direct appeal to ordinary unionists and Orangemen to stop the spiral towards anarchy. David Ford said: “In recent days, I have received a number […]
Following a meeting between a delegation of Alliance Belfast City Councillors and Assistant Chief Constable, Duncan McCausland, Alliance Councillor and former Lord Mayor, Tom Ekin, has appealed to the general public to support the police while it works to restore law and order on the streets. Cllr Ekin said that he is assured of the […]
Alliance Party Leader, David Ford MLA, has expressed his disbelief in the Orange Order’s denial of any involvement in the violence of the past weekend. He has also said that the Order’s calling the Police Service ‘arrogant’ was patently insulting to those officer who literally put their lives on the line, to protect a local […]
Alliance Leader David Ford has criticised those Unionists who still refuse to recognise where the fault lies for the violence since Saturday. Following a meeting with Peter Hain, David Ford said: “Alliance made clear to the Secretary of State that responsibility for the violence this past week lies squarely on the shoulders of the Orange […]
Alliance Party Leader, David Ford, has given a belated welcome to the decision of the Secretary of State to specify the UVF, but stated that it still leaves questions regarding what was the threshold of violence that forced the Government to make this move and how they are defining a ceasefire. David Ford said, “This […]
Alliance Belfast City Councillor, Tom Ekin, has rejected the Orange Order’s claims that recent street violence was an expression of desperation, and that no one listens to the wishes of local residents. Councillor Ekin pointed out that during his term of office as Belfast Lord Mayor, he worked hard to facilitate a more peaceful parade […]