Victims of recent loyalist violence to meet Cowen

Sinn Féin Assembly member for North Belfast Mr Gerry Kelly will lead a group of victims of recent loyalist violence to meet Minister…

Sinn Féin Assembly member for North Belfast Mr Gerry Kelly will lead a group of victims of recent loyalist violence to meet Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Brian Cowen in Dublin tomorrow morning.

The group will include victims of pipe-bomb attacks and threats from Ardoyne, Balmoral and the Larne area.

Mr Kelly said: "The recent campaign of loyalist attacks across the North, which have been largely the responsibility of the UDA, is clearly part of a concerted campaign by loyalists to drive Catholics from parts of these areas. It is also intended to heighten tensions and so undermine the political and peace process."

The Irish Government has a responsibility to citizens living in the North, he said.

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"I will be impressing upon Mr Cowen the importance of his role in bringing pressure to bear on the British government to bring an end to these attacks," Mr Kelly said.