South and East Belfast Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

£35,000 spent on Policing St Patrick's Day disturbances - Holyland problems must be tackled

Published: 22 April, 2009

South Belfast Sinn Féin MLA Alex Maskey has said that the revelation that more than £35,000 was spent on policing the Holyland area on St Patrick's Day underpins the need for the underlying issues associated with this area to be tackled.


The South Belfast MLA said,

"The revelation that more than £35,000 was spent on policing the disturbances in the Holyland on 17th March is startling. This is undoubtedly a huge drain on public money and has deprived the Policing budget of much needed resources, resources that are desperately needed to tackle crime in the area.


"The trouble which occurred on St Patrick's Day was a manifestation of a number of problems in the Holyland area which have been well documented. The revelation that so much money was spent on policing these disturbances underpins the need to move swiftly to tackle the problems long associated with this area",


He concluded,

"As I have stated previously, I am firmly of the opinion that a long-term resolution of this issue can only be brought about through a high profile Executive intervention and working in conjunction with landlords, residents, community leaders, politicians and the Universities. I will continue to work towards this end".

CRÍOCH