RECENT SECTARIAN ATTACKS IN NORTHERN IRELAND

Early day motion 381, tabled 27 February 2001 by John McDonnell (Labour). Signed by 33 members.

That this House notes with extreme concern the rising number of sectarian attacks, including pipe bomb, nail bomb and firebomb attacks, directed against Catholic homes in parts of Northern Ireland in recent weeks; notes that 50 separate attacks have taken place since the beginning of this year, with particular intensity in Larne and north Belfast; is alarmed that these attacks, which have already caused serious injury in some cases, may result in fatalities if they are not stopped; believes that the perpetrators of the attacks are seeking to undermine the peace process and the Good Friday Agreement, which enshrined 'the right to freedom from sectarian harassment' for everyone in the community; and, in support of that commitment, calls upon the Government and the Secretary of State to take action with the utmost urgency to bring these attacks to an end.

Signatures by party: Labour 26, Liberal Democrat 3, Labour/Co-operative 2, Conservative 1, Independent 1.