East Belfast people have their say on 'nuisance' security alert campaign at Henry Jones Park


Parents, workers and dog walkers hit by a raft of ‘suspicious object’ alerts at Henry Jones playing fields in recent years have slammed the ongoing disruption as an ‘unwanted nuisance’. The ‘campaign of hate’ began after East Belfast GAA started training at the Belfast City Council pitches set among rolling hills with outstanding views of the city.

But with police forced to call two ‘security alerts’ in two days; putting families out of their homes, closing a school and two nurseries and impacting the work of a powerline contractor, many are calling for an end to the sinister bids to intimidate.

We headed along to the Belfast City Council facility after police reopened Church Road to talk to people to those who use the area. None of those we spoke to were comfortable being named given the sectarian nature of the disruption but each and every one said the ongoing havoc is causing a range of issues throughout the East Belfast community.

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Three nurseries and Lough View Integrated Primary School have had to close a number of times this year, leading to frenzied communication with parents, some of whom have had to leave work to collect their children.

While road closures have caused traffic disruption, limiting access to homes and Castlereagh Presbyterian Church, those who use the park for a range of sports and to walk their dogs have been left without access when 'suspicious objects' are being dealt with by police and ATO.

Lough View Integrated Primary School children have been repeatedly impacted by security alerts at the site where East Belfast GAA trains
Lough View Integrated Primary School children have been repeatedly impacted by security alerts at the site where East Belfast GAA trains -Credit:Shauna Corr

A mum with a small child at the school told us it's tough "even explaining why school is closed - you don't want him to be getting upset over that". She said both her and her husband have also had to take time off work to look after their child as a result.

"It's just unwanted. It's unbelievable in 2024," she added. "It's just to cause disruption. Nobody wants it."

A second parent told us "it's not ideal" while another mum said resulting school closures have hit "at key times when the kids are in doing papers for the AQE".

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She added: "The kids were prepared to go in and do it - then all of a sudden there was a device found and the school was closed. That completely threw them off and they [parents] ended up having to withdraw them.

"That's the impact it had on them [the children]. They had themselves that built up then all of a sudden, the day they had off they had a complete meltdown and the day they went back into the school to do it... five parents were saying how much it has affected the child. I just worry if it does keep happening as kids go up to the school."

The concerned mum she also worries about how to explain the closures in words the children will understand without scaring them. She explained: "My seven-year-old... was saying 'someone said at the park yesterday there was a bomb'.

A police warning at Henry Jones playing fields in East Belfast, where the local GAA team trains
A police warning at Henry Jones playing fields in East Belfast, where the local GAA team trains -Credit:Shauna Corr

"I said not that's not strictly true and police are there because they just need to check everything and he was like 'why would they do that?' How do you even explain they [those behind the suspicious devices] are doing it because they don't want people to play a sport at a playing field."

As well as parents using nearby nurseries and schools, we spoke to dog walkers who felt it was "disruptive and a nuisance".

A powerline contractor also saw their working day impacted by the recent alerts, with police telling them to "get off the poles and stop work - it was a bit of a hindrance".

A local resident impacted by closures at Church Road from Manse Road to Marlborough Heights told us: "It's just annoying that you can't get out when you want to. It's just a nonsense. It's not necessary at all."

PSNI at Henry Jones' Playing Fields in August 2020 with police car in foreground and playing pitches in background
PSNI at Henry Jones' Playing Fields in August 2020 -Credit:Matt Mackey/Press Eye

While a woman who works nearby and has also been impacted said: "It's just chaotic. It's just stupid."

Politicians from all backgrounds have condemned the disruption this ongoing campaign against the GAA in East Belfast in recent days, saying it is hurting the local community.

We understand a meeting will take place on Thursday night to discuss the ongoing trouble, while there have been suggestions cameras could now be fitted in the facility. A sign has already been posted outside saying "this area is being monitored for antisocial behaviour".

We asked Belfast City Council when security cameras will be fitted. They said: "Council is continuing to work with the PSNI, elected representatives and key user groups to review and improve security at Henry Jones Playing Fields. This includes progressing plans to install CCTV and lighting at the site, as previously agreed by elected members."

We asked the PSNI who they think is behind the ongoing disturbances, and how much police time and costs have been incurred as a result. They had not replied pre-publication.

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