A community group that delivers food parcels has been closed due to threats linked to the UVF.
In a post on their Facebook page, the Ballymac Friendship Centre says: “Due to Threats being made to members of staff & volunteers from the Ballymac we will be CLOSED until further notice.
“Unfortunately we will not be able to provide our current service of assistance, food parcels & cooked meals to residents & pensioners during this time. We wish everyone safe keeping in these challenging times.”
The Centre is based in the Pitt Park area of East Belfast. The district was the scene of an incident at around 1.30pm yesterday (Tuesday) when a large number of men entered the area in what is being labelled a ‘show of strength’ by the East Belfast UVF.
Police are understood to have been aware of some kind of incident was imminent so were able to get a number of officers to Pitt Park as the men arrived. There are reports that the police presence prevented a possible attack on a house.
Yesterday, East Belfast MP Gavin Robinson said that “over the last couple of weeks, there has been a number of worrying incidents in East Belfast”.
The DUP man added: “Homes attacked, families intimidated and our community living in fear. Today we saw a severe escalation of that in Pitt Park. It has to stop. East Belfast deserves better. The PSNI need to get a grip and show such action will not be tolerated.”
Today he told Belfast Live: "It's deeply depressing that, as the result of bully boy aggression, an important community facility has closed and those who have benefited from meals and support throughout the pandemic will suffer. It's not on. It has to stop."
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