Church leader appeals for end to violence

The Bishop of Down and Connor Dr Patrick Walsh has called on Northern Ireland’s political leaders to stand united in their condemnation of the recent sectarian violence.

The bishop made the appeal after saying mass at St Matthew’s Church in the Short Strand area of east Belfast on Sunday July 22.

He said: “I know there are political differences and of course everybody respects differences as part of democracy, but there must be certain issues that everybody is united on – the whole question of confrontation on the streets, violence and young people being involved.

“If elected representatives could be see, not just separately, but together, speaking with one voice on something which everybody abhors, I think that would give out a very powerful message.”

St Matthew’s Church is situated on the interface between the nationalist Short Strand and the loyalist lower Newtownards Road – an area that has been recently dogged with violent sectarian shows of strength.

Dr Walsh’s appeal for calm came amid a fresh spate of sectarian attacks on homes across the province. Over the weekend police recorded a number of isolated pipe bomb attacks on the homes of Catholic families in Belfast, Coleraine and a Catholic church in County Tyrone.

The latest incident involved an attack on a catholic family at Barnfield Grange in the Derriaghy area near Lisburn around 3am on Monday. A disabled man was among seven people who escaped injury in the overnight pipe bomb attack, which exploded on the doorstep of their home. The explosion broke a glass panel in the front door and filled the hall with smoke. (AMcE)