Strand Protestants speak out on attacks

Wednesday September 18, 2002 13:32

by Friedrich Oswald

Two Short Strand residents with Protestant backgrounds have slammed claims by Secretary of State John Reid that recent violence in East Belfast has been tit-for-tat.

Strand Protestants speak out on attacks

(Irelandclick.com)

Two Short Strand residents with Protestant backgrounds have slammed claims by Secretary of State John Reid that recent violence in East Belfast has been tit-for-tat.

Rod Clooney and Damian Brennan were speaking at a press conference organised by Protestant residents from the East Belfast interface.

More than 60 people either of the Protestant faith or of Protestant parentage live in the Short Strand.

And although many others spoke to the South Belfast News they were too afraid to be identified in case family members who still live in loyalist areas came under attack.

“We're called Lundy's and turncoats,” explained Rod Clooney, a Protestant originally from the Newtownards Road.

“After my mother and father died I had nowhere to go and I was welcomed into the Short Strand with open arms.

“That wouldn't happen to a Catholic in a loyalist area.

“My home has been attacked by loyalist rioters on countless occasions since I moved here.

“They don't care that I am a Protestant, they view me with the same hatred that they do every Catholic from the Short Strand.”

And Rod Clooney claims the PSNI's attitude is no better.

“They have mistakenly called me a Fenian bastard in the past,” he said.

“They have to bear a lot of the responsibility for what has gone on in East Belfast since May.

“I have witnessed them sit back and allow loyalists to attack homes in the Short Strand.”

Rod Clooney says John Reid is wrong when he says the situation in East Belfast is tit-for-tat, Catholic against Protestant.

“I'm a Protestant living in the Short Strand being attacked by fellow Protestants,” he said.

“The bottom line is that loyalism is trying to eradicate my community.”

And Damian Brennan who has a Protestant parent agrees.

“John Reid infuriated the entire community when he made his ill-advised comments last week,” said the Clandeboye resident.

“And David Trimble did the same when he chose to visit Cluan Place and not the Short Strand.”

Damian Brennan says his community has been wrongfully accused of sectarian attacks on the people of Cluan Place.

“If there was even an ounce of sectarianism in any Short Strand resident then surely the first thing they would do would be to put the Protestants living here out of the area,” he said.

“The very fact that there are 60 Protestants living here who are treated as equals highlights the truth.

“That the Short Strand is a community under siege.”

September 14, 2002

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