Yahoo News Linda Ervine 'disgusted' at East Belfast integrated Irish school being portrayed as a 'threat'
Linda Ervine says she's "absolutely disgusted" at how East Belfast's integrated Irish-medium school has "been portrayed as some kind of a threat".
Her comments follow revelations that DUP Education Minister Paul Givan met with the Loyalist Communities Council about the school, but refused a meeting with Irish language group, Conradh na Gaeilge.
The LCC said it told the Minister Scoil na Seolta has "no meaningful support from the local unionist and loyalist population, and no consultation had taken place with local residents".
READ MORE: Education Minister criticised for meeting with Loyalist Communities Council
READ MORE: East Belfast Irish language school gets planning OK despite DUP opposition
But the intervention by the representative group of the UVF, UDA and Red Hand Commandos has been slammed by unionist and nationalist politicians.
Belfast City Council's Planning Committee approved plans for a temporary nursery and primary school, soft play area, new access, parking, landscaping, and ancillary site works on a site east of 44 Montgomery Road, East Belfast in June, despite DUP opposition.
Now the school's co-founder, and manager of East Belfast Irish language project Turas, Ms Ervine, has shared images of children at the school celebrating the King's coronation last year.
She said on X: "I'm absolutely disgusted by the way our Integrated School has been portrayed as some kind of threat.
"Here are our 'dangerous' children last year celebrating the King's coronation. They or their parents won't be causing a problem to anyone.
READ MORE: East Belfast GAA: What sparked the 8 'hoaxes' targeting park where team trains
"Integrated education is not about avoiding cultural differences but instead celebrating the various cultural backgrounds of the pupils. The Coronation was a big event in our community and important to some of our families and we celebrated it."
Alliance Education spokesperson Nick Mathison hit out at the Education Minister over engagement with the LCC over the education of our children.
He said: "The LCC is an umbrella organisation for active paramilitary groups and organisations such as this should have absolutely no place when it comes to decision-making over the education of our children.
"Questions must be asked about the Minister's judgement in this case. He should be seeking to remove all paramilitary influence over our children and young people, rather than giving their views a platform."
A spokesperson for the Department of Education said: "Paul Givan, Education Minister, met with the LCC to discuss a range of issues relating to education underachievement in loyalist areas and undertook to share information on DE’s (Department of Education) RAISE programme and other relevant initiatives. The meeting was arranged at the request of the LCC."
READ MORE: East Belfast Irish medium nursery to open soon
READ MORE: East Belfast people have their say on 'nuisance' security alert campaign at Henry Jones Park
The furore around the school follows a rise in hoax devices sparking security alerts at an East Belfast park where East Belfast GAA train.
Police figures show there has been an escalation in hoaxes behind a total of eight 'security alerts' at Belfast City Council's Henry Jones playing fields.
Since May this year, the park has been cordoned off five times to allow police to tackle incidents which could have posed a threat to the public.
We spoke with parents, workers and dog walkers hit by two security alerts in the area last week, with everyone telling Belfast Live the ongoing disruption is an ‘unwanted nuisance’.
Now police have provided a breakdown of what was behind every incident at the park since East Belfast GAA started using the grounds in 2020, with five devices, a bomb threat and letter all found to be hoaxes.
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