Politicians in north Belfast have said they are making “constructive” progress in their efforts to find a solution to racist and sectarian attacks in the area.
News NI has learned that a young mother from the catholic community fled her home three weeks ago, claiming her children were subjected to sectarian abuse.
It comes as politicians and community representatives met on Tuesday morning just days after a number of homes were attacked in racially-motivated crimes in the Lower Oldpark area.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and a number of other agencies also attended the meeting at the Girdwood community hub.
Children in park threatened by adults
The mother of four young children, who wishes to remain anonymous because of fears for the safety of her family, lived in a new development at Annalee Street in the Lower Oldpark area of North Belfast.
The homes of several catholic families who lived along the same street were damaged during sectarian attacks in May.
Some families moved away from the street at the time.
The mother told News NI her family fled their home three weeks ago.
She said her children “were threatened in the park by adults” and warned that if they didn’t get out of the park “they would be trailed out”.
The woman, who broke down on numerous occasions while speaking to the , said she was then subjected to sectarian abuse, and was later told a threat had been made that her home would be attacked with pipe bombs.
“So, I just left that night, and then I had nowhere else to go, only for friends and family for over two weeks,” she said.
“I had all my bags and clothes in the boot of the car, and then I got temporary accommodation on Friday, a two-bed flat which has me and four kids in”.
She added, “My wee lad’s terrified”.
Asked how she feels about having to move out of her new home in the new development, she said she was “absolutely gutted”.
“I was waiting years on a house, and then all the money I put into it too to get it done for me and the kids and had to leave”.
She said she had good relationships with everyone on the street and believes the intimidation and threats came from people from “around that area, not in the street”.
She added: “It’s terrible. I didn’t think in 2025 this would all be still happening. My kids were traumatised because of it, and they didn’t have a clue about what’s catholic and what’s protestants.”
‘Paramilitary element’
The multi-agency meeting on Tuesday was arranged by the Sinn Féin MP, John Finucane, who said all cross-community representatives were given reassurances by the police around their response to the recent attacks and threats.
He said the police assured everyone at the meeting that they are taking the attacks “very seriously”.
The MP said: “I want to see more people brought before the criminal justice system to send the message out that if you behave in a sectarian or racist way, there has to be consequences to those actions.”
He also said if there is an organised paramilitary element involved then “that needs to be called out”.
The Alliance Party MLA, Nuala McAllister, said some “actions” came out of the meeting but “that’s not to say that things are all settled”.
“There’s still a lot of work to do. We’ve had commitments from the Housing Executive, the housing association and from the police, because it is very important that residents feel protected,” she said.
Representatives from Clanmil Housing attended the meeting. In a statement, they said they are continuing to work with the PSNI, local community and political representatives “to support our customers and towards ensuring that our homes at Annalee Street and Alloa Street are safe and welcoming for all”.
Racism victim speaks out after attack
On Monday, Sia Fey, who is a victim of a recent racist attack, told News NI she intended to keep her family in their north Belfast home.
Last week she was in her house in Manor Street with her two children, aged 12 and 14, when the window of their living room was smashed.
Another house in Manor Street and one in nearby Summerhill Court, were also damaged in the incidents on Thursday.
Police are investigating a potential link between all three incidents.
