Alliance Councillor for Castlereagh Michael Long has condemned an attack on an 83-year-old man in his home on the outskirts of east Belfast. The attacker called at his door on Thursday carrying a bunch of newspapers then pushed his way into the house at Rosewood Park in Castlereagh. He threatened to cut the pensioner’s throat […]
Alliance Deputy Leader Eileen Bell has urged the IRA to end the forcible exile of people from Derry. Mrs Bell said that after hearing Martin McGuinness’s mother tell Spotlight of how her son called her every day, she wondered how many other mothers in Derry there were who would appreciate a call from their son […]
Nothing better illustrates the fragility of our political institutions than the speed of their suspension. Ten days prior to the move to suspend, the Assembly seemed to be trundling along with little inclination of the fate that awaited it in the aftermath of the allegations that Republicans had been collecting political and security intelligence. But […]
The poorest families in Northern Ireland are paying moneylenders between 100 and 500 percent on loans, Alliance Children’s spokesperson Marjorie Hawkins has said. The Carrickfergus woman was speaking after charity Save the Children revealed shocking statistics on Beat Poverty Day earlier this week. Ms Hawkins said: “Poverty affects families with younger children the most, and […]
Dear Sir, It is clear to me that the hypocrisy of the DUP and UUP over terrorism knows no bounds upon hearing of their proposed holiday to South Africa to discuss the future of Unionism with the political advisers and representatives of the UDA and the UVF. For the past couple of weeks in particular, […]
Alliance Leader David Ford has said that democrats cannot be kept waiting forever for paramilitaries to abandon violence and turn to exclusively peaceful means. Speaking after the Prime Minister’s speech today, Mr Ford said: “I welcome the Prime Minister’s recognition of the very real problems that republican paramilitary activity has brought, and that there is […]
Alliance Health Spokesperson Geraldine Rice has said that proposals to downgrade the Mater Hospital are “a disservice to all the people of Belfast”. Mrs Rice said that the plans were “jumping the gun, just as the casualty unit had undergone a £500,000 face lift” and expressed hope that the new Health Minister “would see sense […]
Alliance North Down Assembly member Eileen Bell has condemned the shooting of a man in Bangor this morning. Mrs Bell said: “I am very concerned that this feud has claimed yet another victim, and it is only through luck that this man was not killed.” “It does not matter who the victim or who was […]
Mrs Bell, Assembly member for North Down, said: “Since the Assembly started, Patricia has worked tirelessly for those who might otherwise have been disenfranchised from the democratic process. She has ensured that those on the periphery are not forgotten.” “Patricia has been heavily involved in getting a better deal for the disabled, including those with […]
Alliance Leader David Ford has said 50:50 quotas should be set aside, since they are currently “proving to be detrimental to good policing in Northern Ireland”. Mr Ford said that he welcomed the Chief Constable’s announcement that 100 officers would be moved into detective units and an advertising campaign would be launched in Great Britain […]