Latest news with #SéamasdeFaoite
BBC News
4 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
East Belfast: Footage of vigilantes patrolling streets 'chilling'
Groups of men patrolling the streets of Belfast and confronting "wholly innocent people" is "chilling", a Belfast City councillor has said. It comes as videos circulating on social media show groups of men walking the streets of east Belfast at night and confronting members of the public from ethnic minority backgrounds and demanding documentation, often leading to angry confrontations. The PSNI has described it as "racism pure and simple". Speaking to the Nolan Show on Tuesday, councillor Séamas de Faoite said that he is concerned that someone is going to be injured. Police have said they are investigating an alleged assault on a man on Oxford Street in Belfast in July, adding that they do "not tolerate any type of vigilante activity and we would caution any individual or group against taking the law into their own hands". The victim was taken to hospital to be treated for head injuries. Police are also investigating another incident of "vigilante activity" following a protest outside a property in the Ravenhill Road area of east Belfast on Sunday. It was reported that "a large crowd had gathered outside the house and had become hostile towards the residents" at around 11:00 BST. Green Party councillor Brian Smyth told the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme on Tuesday that the group's actions are "nothing more than racial intimidation".He said there is a problem with "misdirected anger", and that many of of the people coming here are "working in the NHS and making this place their home".Speaking on Tuesday, UUP MLA Jon Burrows said in his prior experience as a senior PSNI officer "vigilantes are always motivated by wanting to exercise power and control"."That's why very many of them will have convictions in the past for domestic violence, animal abuse and those kinds of convictions."He described these groups as a "menace to society" who are "not appointed, not elected, have no legal powers and are not subject to any accountability". 'Living in fear' The interim Victims of Crime Commissioner Geraldine Hanna told the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme on Tuesday she found the footage "horrifying". "Can you imagine walking through a public park, minding your own business and being approached by a gang of men, demanding to see your passport or your birth certificate?"She said the actions of these groups are "creating victims and breeding fear"."Across our communities, we have people from ethnic minority groups who are fulfilling really important roles in our society, but they're living in fear," she added. Additional officers deployed De Faoite said "I don't think a huge amount of people fully understand just how stretched the police service is".However, he added that "these gangs are making our streets an unsafe and unwelcome place" and "they must be dealt with".Speaking about "vigilante patrolling" in east Belfast, District Commander Superintendent Gavin Kirkpatrick said police are aware of a number of videos on social media showing "groups of men 'patrolling' east Belfast streets and confronting members of the public"."I am very concerned about the actions of these groups," he said."Such activity is not protecting this community, it is attempting to control it. It is racism pure and simple."Supt Kirkpatrick encouraged anyone who has been confronted by these groups to come forward and report it to police. He added that additional officers will be deployed in east Belfast in the coming days.
Sunday World
28-06-2025
- General
- Sunday World
Calls for urgent action over suspected asbestos at Belfast bonfire site
New images show the pyre being constructed in the Village area just yards from a pile of material believed to be contaminated with asbestos Watch: Asbestos material close to a bonfire in the village area of South Belfast A south Belfast councillor has called for urgent action to remove suspected hazardous asbestos waste from a bonfire site in the area, warning it poses a serious risk to public health. New images show the pyre being constructed in the Village area just yards from a pile of material believed to be contaminated with asbestos. The site, located near Meridi Street and Maldon Street, is privately owned land and has been the subject of environmental and planning concerns in recent years. SDLP representative Séamas de Faoite, who sits on Belfast City Council's Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, is demanding immediate action. 'This is a matter of public safety and an urgent health risk,' he said. 'It's not about bonfires or anything else. I've repeatedly asked that Belfast City Council seek an injunction against the landowner and the NIEA to get the asbestos material removed. "This cannot be allowed to drag on any further and potentially put people at risk.' The dumped waste material is very near a bonfire site (Photo by Peter Morrison) It comes after confirmation that the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) and Belfast City Council are working together to secure and clear the site. Contractors have been instructed to fence off the hazardous material. The land has previously been at the centre of a planning dispute with permission refused for a housing development due to the presence of contaminated waste. With the bonfire expected to be lit in two weeks, politicians and residents have raised concerns about the proximity of the structure to the waste pile and the potential health impact of burning materials nearby. The local authority said it is continuing to liaise with the NIEA and other relevant agencies but that responsibility for the land remains with the private owner. Certain exposed asbestos materials can break and explode when exposed to flames. All asbestos fibres are deemed to be carcinogenic category one, and cause severe damage when inhaled into the lungs. Further discussions are expected in the coming days over how the site will be managed in the lead-up to the Eleventh Night. The site, located near Meridi Street and Maldon Street, is privately owned land and has been the subject of environmental and planning concerns in recent years (Photo by Peter Morrison) In a statement, a Belfast City Council spokesperson said elected representatives have agreed to potentially seek legal action to remove the materials and confirmed that NIEA is currently conducting its own probe. 'Council have been engaging with the landowner at this site to ensure that suspected asbestos containing materials are adequately secured,' they said . "We have also served an abatement notice on the landowner requiring them to secure and contain the materials. NIEA is currently undertaking an enforcement investigation, as they are the lead enforcement authority in relation to this issue. 'Council continues to engage with NIEA and the landowner to ensure that the materials are removed as soon as possible. Elected members have also previously agreed that this may include pursuing legal action to ensure the materials are removed and the wider site secured. Council officers are also continuing to liaise with the local community to ensure that these materials remain fenced off.' A spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) added: 'The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) received a complaint concerning potentially hazardous waste at a site in the vicinity of Meridi Street, Belfast on the afternoon of Friday 16 May. 'Staff from the Environmental Crime Unit within NIEA were in contact with Belfast City Council about the matter on Monday 19 May and enquiries are ongoing.'
Belfast Telegraph
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
Calls for urgent action over suspected asbestos risk at south Belfast bonfire site
A south Belfast councillor has called for urgent action to remove suspected hazardous asbestos waste from a bonfire site in the area, warning it poses a serious risk to public health. New images show the pyre being constructed in the Village area just yards from a pile of material believed to be contaminated with asbestos. The site, located near Meridi Street and Maldon Street, is privately owned land and has been the subject of environmental and planning concerns in recent years. SDLP representative Séamas de Faoite, who sits on Belfast City Council's Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, is demanding immediate action. 'This is a matter of public safety and an urgent health risk,' he said. 'It's not about bonfires or anything else. I've repeatedly asked that Belfast City Council seek an injunction against the landowner and the NIEA to get the asbestos material removed. "This cannot be allowed to drag on any further and potentially put people at risk.' It comes after confirmation that the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) and Belfast City Council are working together to secure and clear the site. Contractors have been instructed to fence off the hazardous material. The land has previously been at the centre of a planning dispute with permission refused for a housing development due to the presence of contaminated waste. With the bonfire expected to be lit in two weeks, politicians and residents have raised concerns about the proximity of the structure to the waste pile and the potential health impact of burning materials nearby. The local authority said it is continuing to liaise with the NIEA and other relevant agencies but that responsibility for the land remains with the private owner. Certain exposed asbestos materials can break and explode when exposed to flames. All asbestos fibres are deemed to be carcinogenic category one, and cause severe damage when inhaled into the lungs. Further discussions are expected in the coming days over how the site will be managed in the lead-up to the Eleventh Night. In a statement, a Belfast City Council spokesperson said elected representatives have agreed to potentially seek legal action to remove the materials and confirmed that NIEA is currently conducting its own probe. 'Council have been engaging with the landowner at this site to ensure that suspected asbestos containing materials are adequately secured,' they said . "We have also served an abatement notice on the landowner requiring them to secure and contain the materials. NIEA is currently undertaking an enforcement investigation, as they are the lead enforcement authority in relation to this issue. 'Council continues to engage with NIEA and the landowner to ensure that the materials are removed as soon as possible. Elected members have also previously agreed that this may include pursuing legal action to ensure the materials are removed and the wider site secured. Council officers are also continuing to liaise with the local community to ensure that these materials remain fenced off.' A spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) added: 'The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) received a complaint concerning potentially hazardous waste at a site in the vicinity of Meridi Street, Belfast on the afternoon of Friday 16 May. 'Staff from the Environmental Crime Unit within NIEA were in contact with Belfast City Council about the matter on Monday 19 May and enquiries are ongoing.'
Belfast Telegraph
27-06-2025
- Health
- Belfast Telegraph
Calls for urgent action over asbestos risk at south Belfast bonfire site
A south Belfast councillor has called for urgent action to remove hazardous asbestos waste from a bonfire site in the area, warning it poses a serious risk to public health. New images show the pyre being constructed in the Village area just yards from a pile of material believed to be contaminated with asbestos. The site, located near Meridi Street and Maldon Street, is privately owned land and has been the subject of environmental and planning concerns in recent years. SDLP representative Séamas de Faoite, who sits on Belfast City Council's Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, is demanding immediate action. 'This is a matter of public safety and an urgent health risk,' he said. 'It's not about bonfires or anything else. I've repeatedly asked that Belfast City Council seek an injunction against the landowner and the NIEA to get the asbestos material removed. "This cannot be allowed to drag on any further and potentially put people at risk.' It comes after confirmation that the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) and Belfast City Council are working together to secure and clear the site. Contractors have been instructed to fence off the hazardous material. The land has previously been at the centre of a planning dispute with permission refused for a housing development due to the presence of contaminated waste. With the bonfire expected to be lit in two weeks, politicians and residents have raised concerns about the proximity of the structure to the waste pile and the potential health impact of burning materials nearby. The local authority said it is continuing to liaise with the NIEA and other relevant agencies but that responsibility for the land remains with the private owner. Certain exposed asbestos materials can break and explode when exposed to flames. All asbestos fibres are deemed to be carcinogenic category one, and cause severe damage when inhaled into the lungs. Further discussions are expected in the coming days over how the site will be managed in the lead-up to the Eleventh Night. In a statement, a Belfast City Council spokesperson said elected representatives have agreed to potentially seek legal action to remove the materials and confirmed that NIEA is currently conducting its own probe. 'Council have been engaging with the landowner at this site to ensure that suspected asbestos containing materials are adequately secured,' they said . "We have also served an abatement notice on the landowner requiring them to secure and contain the materials. NIEA is currently undertaking an enforcement investigation, as they are the lead enforcement authority in relation to this issue. 'Council continues to engage with NIEA and the landowner to ensure that the materials are removed as soon as possible. Elected members have also previously agreed that this may include pursuing legal action to ensure the materials are removed and the wider site secured. Council officers are also continuing to liaise with the local community to ensure that these materials remain fenced off.'
