SAOIRSE32

Belfast Telegraph

By Jonathan McCambridge
12 July 2006

Loyalist vandals are being blamed for a wrecking spree at a Catholic primary school which caused thousands of pounds of damage.

Police are currently viewing CCTV footage after more than 10 windows were smashed at St Mary’s on the Hill Primary School in Glengormley - the latest in a series of attacks there.

Local parish priest, Father Dan Whyte, said the school suffered continual sectarian vandalism.

It is believed the latest attack occurred between 3pm last Friday and 10pm on Saturday night, although the damage was only discovered Monday morning.

It is understood bricks and large blocks were fired at the windows. Local residents believe catapults may have been used.

A police spokeswoman said: “CCTV footage is currently being viewed and police are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed any suspicious activity in the area during this time to contact police in Newtownabbey on 0845 600 8000.”

Fr Whyte said: “Unfortunately, this is the reality of having a Catholic primary school in the middle of a loyalist estate.

“We suffer from persistent low- level sectarian violence, but it is worst at this time of the year.

“The school will just pick up the pieces and move on.”

The school is beside St Mary’s on the Hill Church, which has also been targeted by loyalists.

Belfast Telegraph

By Michael McHugh
12 July 2006

The number of Northern Ireland hospital admissions for killer asbestos diseases have more than doubled in 10 years, it emerged yesterday.

With 208 admissions in 2004, compared with 106 in 1995, victims have warned the tally won’t peak until 2050.

Sufferer Brian Lee, 69, from Dundonald, said the silent killer threatened hundreds of lives.

“It brings home to you the seriousness of these diseases and the problem is that they are incurable so there’s not a lot which hospitals can do,” he said.

“The numbers being treated are just going to grow as people discover they have this disease.”

The figures were released in response to a Parliamentary question from Democratic Unionist Party MP Iris Robinson.

Conditions develop from particles of asbestos dust caught in the lungs.

Many sufferers are former shipyard workers or tradesmen who used asbestos as a popular building material in the 1950s and 1960s.

RTÉ

12 July 2006 10:39

The controversial Orange Order parade in north Belfast has passed off peacefully.

About 100 Orange Order members and bandsmen paraded close to the nationalist Ardoyne area.

The parade was marshalled by Orange Order officials and no music was played as the march passed Ardoyne.

Residents did not stage a formal protest but leading republicans including Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly watched as the parade went by.

Compared to other years, security was low-key with just a small number of PSNI vehicles on patrol.

For the first time since the 1970s the British Army has not been deployed to support the police and the PSNI was allowed to handle any public order incidents.

Meanwhile, the PSNI has said it suspects that an overnight fire, which destroyed an Orange hall in Co Antrim, was started deliberately.

The blaze engulfed the hall at Lavin, near Armoy and the Orange Order has said it will have to be rebuilt.

Politicians from all sides in Northern Ireland earlier appealed for calm ahead of the 12 July parades.

Thousands of Orange Order members will march at 14 venues across Northern Ireland, with the biggest crowds expected in Belfast and Bangor, Co Down.

BN.ie

12/07/2006 - 09:15:28

Republicans have been blamed after an Orange Hall was destroyed by fire today.

Loyal order members say the hall, at Lavin near Armoy, Co Antrim, built in 1875, will have to be totally rebuilt.

North Antrim Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) Assemblyman Mervyn Storey said it was a terrible blow.

“The scene is one of total devastation. The building has been totally destroyed and there’s a great sense of disappointment,” he said.

“The hall was attacked by paint first and there was access to the roof so I don’t think there’s any doubt that this was deliberate.

“This was people who set out to destroy an Orange Hall and I am challenging republican leaders to condemn this with no ambiguity.”

He said 30 members of the lodge were determined to rebuild the hall by next summer and said they would be on parade later today in Ballycastle.

Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service Coleraine Station Commander Charlie McAuley said four fire appliances from Ballymoney and Ballycastle had attended.

“We will treat it as a deliberate fire until it is proven otherwise but we will consider all possibilities,” he added.

Thousands of Orangemen are expected to parade across the North today for the July 12 commemoration of Protestant Prince William’s victory over Catholic King James II at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.

The army will not be used, for the first time, and police intend to handle any public order incidents.

Flashpoints are expected at Dunloy in Co Antrim and Ardoyne in north Belfast.

The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service received more than 300 emergency calls in the hour after midnight on the eleventh night.

Crews were responding to reports every 41 seconds at one point after the lighting of bonfires to commemorate the victory.

BN.ie

12/07/2006 - 10:59:52

An Irish tricolour insulting a Northern Irish sectarian murder victim has been placed on top of a bonfire in Co Antrim.

The name of 15-year-old Catholic murder victim Michael McIlveen was on a flag due to be burned at the Eleventh night loyalist bonfire in Ahoghill.

The message said: “F*** Mickey Bo”, the dead teenager’s nickname.

Police and Sinn Féin North Antrim Assemblyman Philip McGuigan branded the display a disgrace.

Mr McGuigan said: “The family of this young man have gone through enough this year already without having to hear about these sectarian displays of hatred directed toward their son.

“How could these flags have been permitted to be put up in the Ballymena area?”

Michael was beaten to death by a gang which pursued him through Ballymena last May.

His death sparked heightened community tensions and saw sectarian taunts posted on internet site Bebo.com as well as death threats against two of five Ballymena teenagers charged with his murder.

A police spokesman said they had liaised with community representatives in an effort to have the flag at Ahoghill taken down.

“Police and others in Ballymena District Command Unit are working to reduce sectarianism in the community. This type of disgraceful display only undermines the good work that is being done.”

Hundreds attended Michael’s emotional funeral and there have been appeals for calm as the marching season reaches its height today.

Co Antrim Orange Grand Master Robert McIlroy said: “Within the institution of Co Antrim we have a situation where we want tolerance and we want respect of each other’s cultures and traditions.

“Certainly for the Orange Order in Co Antrim there’s no place for sectarianism or bigotry.”