Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín has condemned those who today disrupted a Policing & Community Safety Partnership meeting at Girdwood Community Hub, a cross-community facility in north Belfast.

The North Belfast MLA:

“It’s disgraceful that protestors, mostly masked, entered this meeting in a cynical attempt to intimidate local residents.

“While we uphold the right to protest, that right is not absolute. It does not embrace masked protestors with the clear intent on disrupting a community forum designed to hold police to account. 

“As an elected representative of north Belfast, I outrightly condemn this despicable behaviour.

“This forum is used by local residents and community representatives to challenge the PSNI and statutory agencies about police resources, drug dealing, poor street lighting, community safety and cleansing.

“The residents of north Belfast have come through far too much to allow people to prevent them from trying to build safer and more vibrant communities. We will not allow a minority to deter us in this vital work.”