18th June 2002

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Short Strand residents to highlight attacks at Dublin Press Conference

Sinn Fein TD for Kerry North, Martin Ferris, will host a press conference of community representatives from the Short Strand area of East Belfast on Thursday 20th June at 10.30am in Buswell's Hotel.

The press conference organised to highlight the ongoing attacks on the small East Belfast nationalist community by loyalists.

Residents and community workers from the Short Strand will bring with them for presentation a dossier of attacks that have occurred over the last 6-8 weeks.

Speaking in advance Deputy Ferris said:

``It is important that people understand the very real sense of fear and intimidation that exists within this very small, isolated community. I visited the area on Saturday last and it was palpable. There is not a single person within this community that has not been affected. Politicians in the 26 Counties have a moral duty to see that the rights of the residents of the Short Strand, as envisaged under the Good Friday Agreement, to live from threat or intimidation, are protected.

``I would encourage members of all the political parties in Leinster House to take this opportunity to hear the first hand and very traumatic experiences of residents and community workers of this area over the last couple of months. It cannot be allowed to continue.''

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Sinn Fein Press Office, 44 Parnell Square, Dublin 1
Tel: +353-1-8726100 and +353-1-8726839   ·   Fax +353-1-8733074
E-mail: sinnfein@irlnet.com   ·   Website: http://www.sinnfein.org

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