Independent Councillor for North Inner City Dublin, Malachy Steenson, has distanced himself from what he says was a small group of people from Dublin who took part in a protest in Belfast last Saturday.
The event was marked by what appeared to have been a strong presence of loyalists. At one stage some of the protestors stopped at the end of a Catholic street where there had previously been clashes in relation to parades.
Steenson said that, whatever the intentions of those involved might have been, taking part in such an event alongside loyalists was “unwise”.
He said his views were echoed by other Councillors and candidates who were associated with protests around asylum accommodation, and by local people who were supportive of such protests. Mr Steenson said that the overwhelming sentiment would appear to be extremely critical of those who did travel to Belfast.
Councillor Steenson rejected the attempt by “elements of the media and the southern establishment to link myself personally as well as the broader protest movement against their failed immigration policy to loyalists.”
Steenson stressed that “neither myself nor the broader movement which (according to their statements) includes the Coolock Says No grouping condone the actions of a small group of people who saw fit to attend such a protest.”
He said that he had consistently condemned loyalist actions over the years.
He added that the only reason for any protests is the ongoing refusal of the establishment including Sinn Féin to engage with local communities over their concerns.