Community Activist Attacked By Provisional Sinn Fein Executive Member.

Statement from Republican Network for Unity Spokesperson Danny Mc Brearty;

“At approximately 6:30pm on the evening of Wednesday September 16th a Community activist, who is also a member of the RNU, was distributing leaflets through doors in the Upper Suffolk Road area of West Belfast in relation to the forthcoming Annual General Meeting of the areas Residents Association.

“It was when approaching one home that he initially came under verbal abuse. After being told not to be “Trying to put any of that s*** through my letter box” and “take yourself off to f**k from my path” the Community activist tried telling his abuser that the leaflet was concerning a matter of interest to the residents in his street. No sooner had he said this than the unprovoked physical attack began. He was punched about the body, had his shirt pulled up over his head and in the process of the assault sustained cuts and bruising to his face and body.

“The victim of Wednesday evenings attack is the same Man who had been named in briefings to the press by North Belfast MLA Gerry Kelly, following the street disturbances in Ardoyne over the Orange March of July 12th, as a prominent ‘Dissent Republican’. This ‘Felon setting’ has now been followed by an unsolicited, brutal attack which was carried out by a member of the Belfast Executive of Provisional Sinn Fein.

“At the beginning of this week Gerry Kelly criticised the RNU for opposing his desire to involve the RUC/PSNI in every aspect of Republican community life. He criticised us for supporting Community groups and initiatives that seek to work openly, democratically on a multi-level / multi-agency approach to problem solving and Community safety/enhancement - without the negative involvement of a British paramilitary ‘policing’ force. Is this attack upon a community stalwart the manner in which Provisional Sinn Fein in Belfast intend to deal with community development and community issues when raised, supported or worked upon by others who do not share their viewpoint or will not blindly submit to their dictat?

“The Republican Network for Unity unreservedly opposes this attempt at preventing a respected Republican and activist from working on behalf of the Community, and resolve to remaining committed to bettering the living standards of those in working class communities whilst we pursue the objective of a 32 Socialist Democratic Republic….and no Fascistic tactics such as those witnessed on Wednesday night will deter us.”

Statement ends