News Brief From Northern Ireland

I'm still on "vacation", but this just came to me from Northern Ireland...


Rasharkin Sinn Féin Councillor, Daithí McKay, has condemned the attacks on 3 properties in Rasharkin in the early hours of Friday morning. The attacks come just before a contentious parade in the nationalist village, which will see over 40 loyalist bands march through the village.

Cllr McKay said:

"These attacks are just the latest in a concerted campaign against nationalists in North Antrim, and people are genuinely fearful of what trouble the loyalist parade through the village may bring tonight.

"A lot of residents are very angry about this and have told me that they will be protesting against the loyalist paramilitary presence in Rasharkin tonight. On the other hand, however, many residents are going to leave the village and take their families away from their homes for the night - and who can blame them?

"As we all know the DUP have been to the forefront in defending this parade through Rasharkin tonight and this will be a litmus test on their position on loyalist paramilitary attacks in North Antrim. Given the present environment of sectarian attacks on Catholics and Nationalists in North Antrim are the DUP seriously going to support pushing UVF and UDA bands through a predominantly nationalist village?"