Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.
A woman who was forced out of her home in June due to sectarian intimidation has expressed dissatisfaction with her temporary replacement housing, leading to a separation within her family. Briege Begley and her family resided at Westland Way in north Belfast for only three days before fleeing following what police identified as a sectarian hate crime. Despite having a daughter, 18, and a son, 14, living with her, Ms. Begley was allocated a two-bedroom flat, resulting in one child having to stay with their grandmother. The Housing Executive acknowledged that the flat was inadequate but cited a housing shortage across Northern Ireland as an issue.
Recalling the harrowing incident, Ms. Begley shared that she and her son encountered a masked man upon returning home one evening in June. Her son’s sighting of the individual in a balaclava raised concerns about potential threats towards their family. As they approached the front of the house, they discovered a broken window and the words “locals only” spray-painted on the neighboring vacant property’s wall. Further distress unfolded when they found all four tires of their car slashed at the back of the house where they parked, prompting the police to advise their immediate departure.
Ms. Begley has since been residing in temporary housing, a two-bedroom apartment in a nationalist area of north Belfast, provided by the Housing Executive. Regrettably, her 18-year-old daughter is unable to reside with her, marking the first time her family has been separated. The traumatic events have taken a toll on Ms. Begley, leading to a significant weight loss. Despite efforts to address her situation, the Housing Executive admitted the challenges of securing permanent housing due to a lack of suitable accommodation and supply across Northern Ireland.
The PSNI has linked the attack on Ms. Begley’s house and the vandalism of her car tires as sectarian-motivated hate crimes. Assistant Chief Constable Davy Beck highlighted UDA members’ involvement in sectarian intimidation in North Belfast during the summer. Another Catholic family affected by similar intimidation in the Lower Oldpark area also faced challenges with unsuitable temporary accommodation for a family of six. The Clanmil Housing Association denounced the intimidation incidents and acknowledged the inadequate housing provided to affected families. It emphasized the acute housing shortage in Northern Ireland, leading to a limited availability of suitable accommodation for those affected by sectarian intimidation
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.