Irish language enrolment class cancelled in Castlerock over reports of loyalist threats

LOYALIST threats have prompted the cancellation of an Irish language class registration event due to take place in Castlerock.

Billed as “a beginners Irish conversation class”, the six-month course was due to start on Monday evening with an enrolment session at the council-owned Peter Thompson Hall.

However it has been reported that organisers and Causeway Coast and Glens Council were made aware of threats believed to have been made by loyalist paramilitaries.

A spokeswoman for the PSNI said “enquiries are ongoing at present to ascertain the circumstances.

The spokeswoman added that “police do not discuss the security of individuals and no inference should be drawn from this”.

The development comes in the wake of heavy criticism of DUP Education Minister Paul Givan after he met with members of the Loyalist Communities Council.

Following the meeting the group, which represents the UVF, UDA and Red Hand Commando, said it had voiced its objections to an Irish language school in east Belfast.

The umbrella group claimed to have told Mr Givan the school had “no meaningful support from the local unionist and loyalist population, and no consultation had taken place with local residents”.

Scoil na Seolta was granted planning permission earlier this year for the temporary building on the Montgomery Road after 11 Belfast city councillors voted for with five against.

The school has since been the focus of a campaign opposed to it.

Dr Pádraig Ó Tiarnaigh, from Irish language network An Dream Dearg, voiced concern at the latest development.

“It’s a fundamental right in a democratic society for people to go about their daily lives free from intimidation and discrimination,” he said.

“This is a sectarian hate crime.

“There is a very sinister and concerning pattern emerging here with this being the latest in a series of threats from loyalist paramilitaries.”

Mr Ó Tiarnaigh said that political unionism “must strongly and unambiguously condemn these actions and ensure that all citizens feel safe and welcome to actively engage with community activities”.

SDLP East Derry MLA Cara Hunter said Mr Givan still had questions to answer about whether it was appropriate to meet those linked with paramilitary groups.

“Attacks of this nature on the Irish language are appalling and have no place in our society,” she said.

“The minister should reflect on whether this meeting emboldened the paramilitaries behind these latest disgraceful threats.”

Ms Hunter called on the Stormont Executive and PSNI “to take every action possible to hold those responsible to account”.

The Department of Education meanwhile has been contacted for a response.

Meanwhile, members of the Stormont education committee have clashed over Mr Givan’s meeting with the LCC.

Speaking at the committee on Wednesday, Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan said the education minister had met with “an unrepresentative group, an unelected group” of loyalists.

Mr Sheehan, who is vice-chairman of the education committee, said “Rightly, concerns and criticisms were raised around that meeting.

“A number of other groups and individuals who are involved in the education sector, or where it’s cross-cutting with health, have requested meetings going back as far as February and haven’t been given that facility,” he said.

He added: “The people who were meeting the minister are unelected and probably, in some cases, unelectable so there’s a qualitative difference there”.

DUP MLA David Brooks responded by saying that “if we’re expected to sit with republicans and listen to republicans, then we’re going to listen to loyalists too”.