Ulster Unionists condemn intimidation of Mid and East Antrim council and DAERA staff
Ulster Unionist MLAs for East Antrim, Roy Beggs and John Stewart, have condemned the intimidation of Mid and East Antrim council staff and DAERA staff who have been carrying out checks at Northern Ireland`s ports.
Roy Beggs MLA said:
“I unreservedly condemn the threats made against Mid and East Antrim council staff and DAERA staff. It is totally reprehensible. I have always opposed violence and the threat of violence irrespective where it comes from and will continue to do so. There is no excuse for it.
“Whatever anger there may be in the community about the imposition of the Protocol on Northern Ireland, those issues must be resolved peacefully and through the use of politics. All energies should be focused on that.”
John Stewart MLA said:
“Threats to Council staff are completely disgraceful. Whatever people think about Brexit, the Withdrawal Agreement or the Northern Ireland Protocol, environmental health officers and agriculture inspectors are only doing their jobs.
“Clearly there is a sinister element at large here. This will be a small group of individuals who have been hyped up by people whose lack of judgment on Brexit and the subsequent negotiations have led to these extra checks at the port of Larne and elsewhere.
“What we can’t have is a complete breakdown of movements in and out of any of our ports which could threaten vital supplies in the middle of a pandemic.”
