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Meeting tonight, Tuesday 04 September, in Belfast, the Presbytery of North Belfast issued the following statement concerning the situation on the Ardoyne Road.
"The Presbytery of North Belfast wishes to express the sense of shock and outrage felt by many ordinary members of our congregations at the scenes on the Ardoyne Road over the last two mornings. These events combined with the overnight rioting there and on the Limestone Road, together with the death of a teenage cyclist in the Whitewell area this afternoon have raised feelings in the North Belfast and Newtownabbey areas to a level unknown for some time.
"The Presbytery is aware of the deep sense of frustration, fear and isolation felt in many protestant districts throughout our area. But we are equally convinced that the present Ardoyne protest will only make it more difficult for their legitimate concerns to be properly and fully addressed.
"We support the efforts of various Presbyterian ministers and others who have been actively involved in seeking a resolution to this dispute and commend them to the prayers of our people.
"Violence, physical and verbal abuse, intimidation and attacks on the police from whatever source are wrong and should stop immediately. The Presbytery calls upon both communities in Ardoyne to pull back from the brink and renew their efforts for a negotiated settlement to all the issues underlying this dispute."
Issued by Stephen Lynas, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
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