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Strand Protestants speak out on attacks national |
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news report
 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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Comments (4 of 4)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4i am a protestant ex-loyalist married to a short strand resident, i have never had any intimidation or harrasment from strond strand residents, when we go to visit my husbands family, i have loyalist tatoos, yet short strand residents have never say boo to me and have been nothing but helpful and friendly to myself and my family, you could not meet nicer, kinder republican people. i also have to say not all east belfast protestants are like those from cluan place, some of whom i have known in the past, the minority of LVF loyalist diehards and cluan place shitstirrers are giving the whole of east belfast protestants a bad name, with their backward intolerance and blind bigotry towards the short strand, i think alot of ordinary working class protestants from wider east belfast are catching on, to what the cluan place LVF are up to.
dodgy last post that one.... more info!
Also, good to hear some news from the other tribe in the North.... keep it flowing!! Need more diversity, views and debate at a grassroots level. For too long the debate has been hijacked by our 'leaders'.
Pleased to see the Protestant elements of the Strand community getting some publicity. I know in a couple of cases they've approached media during riots and offered themselves for interviews. Very courageous of them considering the threats that exist against their families.
Was up in the Short Strand yesterday and it's been fairly quiet, comparitively speaking, for the last couple of weeks but Loyalists 'repairing' roofs on houses opposite have been doing it for some time now with no discernible improvement, possibly as a result of long breaks to watch what's going on in the Strand. The spirit of the community was excellent, despite the extensive damage done at two particular intersections and while the attacks have hugely declined, they are still regularish occurencenes with few residents in houses close to the frontline planning on bringing home their families any time soon.
I'd again, encourage those with an interest in the situation to take a trip up to the Strand and meet with local residents and representatives.
ha, ha, ha, thats what happens to LVF CLUAN PLACE loyalist shitstirring drug dealers, have you ever noticed what happens to all UFF C company commander, Johnny adair close pals, their dropping like flies, with the exception of Mr Adair, whats the count now?, lets see, Billy wright, mark fulton, whatshisname coutler, stephen warnock, many others banged up in maghaberry prison with the exception of Mr Adair, who remains unscathed and seemingly untouchable. watch your back, Andre shoukri, you could be next, for a fall, or a bullet in the back. dodgy post that one Herr ruairi, seen your work at the cuntryside alliance post. catch you later.