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NIHE tells tower block residents to leave homes amid bonfire unrest
Northern Ireland’s housing authority told residents at two of its Belfast tower blocks to leave their homes last night as unrest broke out around a huge bonfire on the estate.
The Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) said it was unable to guarantee the safety of people in the Oisin House and Fianna House tower blocks at the New Lodge in north Belfast, which contain a combined 100 flats.
NIHE staff were supporting affected residents at another block on the estate throughout the night.
Residents were offered temporary accommodation, but the landlord said most opted to stay with family and friends, with some choosing to stay in the blocks.
Oisin House sustained external damage and its fire alarm was triggered by smoke from the bonfire, it added.
Police said this morning there was “a number of reported stabbing incidents” in the area last night as the bonfire was lit.
An 18-year-old stabbed in the back near to the bonfire was in a critical condition this morning, while another 39-year-old man is also in hospital.
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Two men, aged 28 and 21, have been arrested on suspicion of offences including causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
A 13-year-old boy was arrested on suspicious of riotous and disorderly behaviour yesterday as police recovered six petrol bombs.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland pulled out of the area yesterday after it had been trying to “support contractors” removing the bonfire when trouble flared, with three police officers injured.
Assistant chief constable Alan Todd said: “With a large number of women, children and young people in the area, we decided that we can no longer sustain a policing operation due to the significant risk to public safety and, in particular, to innocent bystanders.
“It is our assessment that the majority of local residents do not want this bonfire.
“I apologise for the inconvenience today’s operation has caused and for not being able to deliver our objective of supporting the removal of the bonfire.”
Carál Ní Chuilín, MLA for Belfast North and Sinn Féin housing spokesperson, thanked the NIHE and Belfast City Council last night via Twitter for their work supporting people who had to leave their homes.
She added: “The residents from the flats really appreciate your support. The community are totally disgusted at the behaviour today and tonight.”
Early yesterday evening, the NIHE said: “Given the ongoing situation in the New Lodge area the Housing Executive is telling residents to leave Oisin and Fianna tower blocks as we cannot guarantee their safety, due to the proximity of the bonfire.
“We are currently speaking to all residents in these tower blocks.
“Housing Executive staff are available at Grainne House to provide advice and assistance to affected residents.”
Today, it added: “The Housing Executive, over the last number of weeks, has been working tirelessly with community and political representatives, as well as statutory agencies to remove bonfire material in the New Lodge area and other areas.
“Indeed, we removed bonfire materials from our land in the New Lodge on four separate occasions, with the support of the local community.
“We worked closely with the Department for Infrastructure to remove the bonfire ahead of the evening of the 8th of August.
“We also supported the application for an injunction for its removal.”
Update: at 4.41pm, 09/08/19 more information was added to the story following an update from the NIHE
