Senior police officials in Northern Ireland have come under fire for what critics are calling a blatant “avoidance” of explicitly linking recent sectarian attacks on homes in north Belfast to known paramilitary organisations. Gerry Kelly, a veteran member of the Sinn Féin Policing Board, publicly challenged police representatives during a recent meeting, expressing outrage at their reluctance to directly acknowledge the involvement of terrorist groups in a series of violent incidents last month that saw masonry pounded against properties on Annalee Street and Alloa Street.
These attacks, which sparked widespread political condemnation, involved forceful acts of intimidation—masonry hurled at residential homes—characterised by community groups like Clanmil Housing Association as “sectarian-motivated hate crimes.” Despite increased police patrols in the area, Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson issued a vague condemnation of the “hate-filled abhorrent behaviour” that sought to intimidate residents, claiming only that “attacks on houses and broken windows” indicated a “sectarian attempt to scare people out of their homes.”
Yet, the police’s narrative has been marked by uncertainty. Henderson appeared to equivocate, stating that while some reports linked the violence to paramilitary involvement, other accounts suggested the violence stemmed from “localised community tensions,” a euphemism that many see as an attempt to dodge confronting the reality: these were orchestrated attacks by organised paramilitary groups. Kelly responded with evident frustration, insisting that dismissing the attacks as mere “tensions” was a dangerous understatement. “This is sectarianism—plain and simple,” he declared, emphasizing that the community deserves unambiguous clarity on whether they are safe from further violence or if the spectre of paramilitary conflict looms.
Nuala McAllister, an Alliance Party member of the Policing Board, echoed this concern, raising the emotional toll these attacks have taken on local families—families left feeling unsafe and vulnerable in their own neighbourhoods. Despite assurances from police about increased patrols and “re-energised” efforts, local residents remain sceptical about whether political promises to maintain security are backed by meaningful action.
The persistent ambiguity surrounding the PSNI’s approach to paramilitary activity isn’t new. Kelly has previously criticised the police for what he perceives as a compromised role in investigating legacy cases, especially where nationalist communities are concerned. He pointed to issues such as the prolonged inquest into murdered GAA official Sean Brown and the non-disclosure of police materials—examples that he argues undermine trust in law enforcement and deter nationalist communities from engaging fully with policing efforts.
Kelly’s own history underscores the intertwined nature of policing and community trust in this troubled region. Having suffered a firework attack on his own home in 2021, he remains resolute in demanding transparency and accountability from police agencies. He asserts that the ongoing failure to confront paramilitary involvement only fuels sectarian violence and undermines any genuine path toward peace and stability.
As authorities continue their investigation into these recent assaults, there is mounting pressure from community leaders and political opponents to take a firmer stance against paramilitary violence. Yet, the current approach—marked by hesitation and obfuscation—appears more geared towards political expediency than genuine security. The community’s safety hangs in the balance while the authorities capitulate to the narrative that “tensions” and “local disagreements” are accidental rather than organised criminal acts, perpetuating a culture of impunity that benefits no one.
Source: Noah Wire Services