Ex-Prisoners' children attacked in Belfast - IRSP Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit source - IRSP Irish Republican Socialist Party PRESS RELEASE - PRESS RELEASE - PRESS RELEASE DATE: 30 May 2001 Ex-Prisoners' children attacked in Belfast - IRSP The Irish Republican Socialist Party has condemned both the RUC and Loyalists following an unprovoked attack on young children on the Crumlin Road last night. Belfast IRSP representative Billy Lynch said; "A number of children who are part of a youth project run by Teach na Failte, the group that represents former republican socialist prisoners and their families were attacked in North Belfast on Tuesday night. The children were on a minibus that called in to a petrol station on the Crumlin Road around 7.15pm last night to get petrol when it came under attack from stone throwing loyalists. This attack took place under the full guise of a heavy RUC presence in the area after an incident in which shots had been fired earlier in the day. The RUC made no attempt to stop the attack. The bus driver in an attempt to get the children to safety tried to drive the mini bus out of the garage it was blocked in by a car. "The children were severely traumatised by the attack in which windows on the bus were broken and they were forced to lie on the floor. The IRSP would like to praise the courage of the bus driver who took every step possible to get the children to safety, but for her quick response there could have been serious injuries, as it stands the whole project has been put at risk due to this attack." In conclusion the IRSP representative said; "We have been visiting parents today to canvas their views on the dangers of continuing with the youth project and at all times the safety of our children comes first, we have had a very determined response from parents who are saying they are not prepared to allow sectarianism and sectarian attacks derail a project that has as its aim the empowerment and personal development for the children of former republican socialist prisoners. The IRSP are demanding that the police ombudsman investigate the RUC's ambivalence if not complicity in this attack." STATEMENT ENDS ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytire-06.04.01-18:53:34-17697