Ministerial meeting rescheduled after protest

Stormont Junior Ministers Jennifer McCann and Jonathan Bell were due to discuss the various strands of youth work that have been carried out locally under Carrickfergus Borough Council’s Good Relations office, as well as the Policing and Community 
Safety Partnership.

However, a demonstration was organised by a group of local loyalists in protest at the presence of Sinn Fein MLA Ms McCann.

A PSNI spokesperson confirmed that officers attended the scene and spoke with a number of people. No offences were noted and the crowd dispersed a short time later.

An earlier visit by both ministers to the CITHRAH Foundation, which provides support to victims of domestic abuse and their families, went ahead as planned.

It is expected that the cancelled meeting will take place at a later date.

Alderman Jim Brown, who attended the CITHRAH event, said that the demonstration at the Town Hall had “political motives”.

“The reality of the situation is that Sinn Fein are in government and will in 
part be determining what is done for Northern Ireland; we should be trying to get as much for our area as 
possible,” he said.

“If there are those in our community who want to ensure that we get nothing then they will have to explain themselves to the electorate. This meeting was about bringing investment and opportunities to the Carrick area.”