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14 October 2011

The Community Relations Council (CRC) has condemned the series of violent attacks which have hit the headlines this week. These include the loyalist attack on a Polish family in Antrim, the loyalist attack on a mixed marriage couple and their child in East Belfast and the dissident republican bomb attack on the City of Culture office in Derry.

Duncan Morrow, CRC Chief Executive, said

“Condemnation of violence is becoming dangerously routine once again.  What is particularly shocking this week is that violence has come from a number of sources, joined only by their hatred of anything which is different or engages us with the wider world.  It is vital that we stand by the victims of these attacks and find those responsible.  In a society committed to human rights and equality for everyone, there is no room for accommodation for this kind of outrage or the spurious reasons that are provided for the underlying hatred.  But beyond condemnation we have to act:  by bringing those responsible to justice and by planning and acting for a shared society at every level.  This will require brave community leaders willing to speak out, robust and fair policing and a long term strategy to undermine any reason for hatred or fear.  The current meetings of political parties to bring forward a new plan for a shared future are vital, but they will only be proven when they turn into consistent action at every level.  None of this is new:  what we need is a clear sense of public purpose and urgency”

For further information contact

Ray Mullan, CRC Director of Communications

02890-227500  email: rmullan@nicrc.org.uk