NI Conservatives’ spokesman, Trevor Ringland, has urged people to “take a step back and look at what we have in Northern Ireland”, as trouble erupted in Carrickfergus and Bangor, following the Union Flag vote at Belfast City Hall.
“First of all I want to condemn the deplorable attacks which took place on Alliance Party property and on the home of two of its representatives”, Trevor spelt out. “It is never acceptable to use intimidation or violence on elected representatives, or people involved in the democratic process. I would urge everyone involved in protests or in the debate around the flag to think carefully about how the situation is developing.”
“Flags and symbols are hugely emotive issues in Northern Ireland and they can be exploited in order to create arguments and ratchet up tensions. We need to step back, look at what we have and what, potentially, there is to lose. Northern Ireland is a marvellous place to live and its people are fantastic, if you press the right buttons. We have to share this place. We can either do this in a constructive way, which brings the best out of our society, or we can continue in the failures in relationships of the past. Northern Ireland is ‘our baby’ if you like, and I worry that, if we are not careful, instead of ensuring that the baby grows strong and healthy, cared for by all of us, that we’ll get to the point where no-one loves it.”
“The flag row was started for political purposes and politicians on either side continue to exploit it. For that reason, bringing it to the floor of the Assembly could exacerbate the problem. I would suggest that the party leaders should get together and demonstrate some leadership by examining how tensions can be eased and show a united front against violence on our streets. And where is the shared future strategy?”