Loyalist flags “raise sectarian tensions”
Loyalist flags have been put up in Derry’s Waterside to ““intimidate” Catholic families”, a Sinn Fein councillor has claimed.
Lynn Fleming was speaking after a number of flags were erected in the Triangle and Glendermott Road areas of the city’s Waterside.
She also said these flags have been erected by a small element within the Protestant Unionist Loyalist (PUL) community to raise sectarian tensions.
“We’re looking forward to a shared future, living in a shared city, yet here we have a small element within the PUL community who are behind this very sinister intimidation of the nationalist community in the Waterside.
“I have no doubt that it was a very deliberate move on behalf of the faceless people behind this, given the year that we are in and the fact that many people will be visiting Derry for the first time and many of those people live in the south.
“Those behind this no doubt saw that people got away with this sort of carry on in Belfast, but I would appeal to those with influence within the PUL community to ask these people to take a look at themselves and the image of our city they’re sending out.
“The last thing we need is anyone trying to heighten community tensions in the city.”
Councillor Fleming said it is now time for “clear leadership within the Unionist community in order to reduce tensions.”
