Thursday, August 24, 2006
Laganbank must not become a dumping ground for sex offenders
DUP Councillor for Laganbank, Christopher Stalford has given his full support to the campaign currently being waged by residents of Sandy Row and Donegall Pass to have a hostel, which houses criminals including sex offenders closed down. The DUP councillor said the residents concerns had not been adequately addressed by either the Northern Ireland Office or the Extern organisation which runs the hostel.
Speaking today the DUP man said:
“The decision to open a hostel, which amongst other criminals houses sex offenders, in the Ventry Street area, has to be one of the most idiotic decision ever taken by a statutory authority. The NIO, in conjunction with Extern, have opted to locate sex offenders within minutes of Botanic Primary School, Blythefield Primary School, St. Malachy’s Primary School, the City of Belfast School of Music, the local cinema, the Robert Bradford Memorial Park and the playing fields at the bottom of Blythe Street as well as local houses. To say this decision represents utter madness is an understatement.
I support fully the action taken by the residents of this area in protesting against the location of this hostel and am demanding answers from the relevant agencies (the NIO and Extern) as to how they can possibly justify what they have done here. I await their response with interest.
Sex offenders are not welcome in my constituency, especially in a highly-developed area, with lots of schools, play facilities and local homes nearby. This hostel must be closed down immediately”, said the DUP Councillor
Speaking today the DUP man said:
“The decision to open a hostel, which amongst other criminals houses sex offenders, in the Ventry Street area, has to be one of the most idiotic decision ever taken by a statutory authority. The NIO, in conjunction with Extern, have opted to locate sex offenders within minutes of Botanic Primary School, Blythefield Primary School, St. Malachy’s Primary School, the City of Belfast School of Music, the local cinema, the Robert Bradford Memorial Park and the playing fields at the bottom of Blythe Street as well as local houses. To say this decision represents utter madness is an understatement.
I support fully the action taken by the residents of this area in protesting against the location of this hostel and am demanding answers from the relevant agencies (the NIO and Extern) as to how they can possibly justify what they have done here. I await their response with interest.
Sex offenders are not welcome in my constituency, especially in a highly-developed area, with lots of schools, play facilities and local homes nearby. This hostel must be closed down immediately”, said the DUP Councillor
# posted by Christopher Stalford @ Thursday, August 24, 2006 
