DUP MLA William Humphrey condemns attack on north Belfast school

NORTH Belfast DUP MLA William Humphrey held a meeting at Springhill Primary School today to discuss measures to end the recent spate of vandalism against the school.

DUP Alderman councillor Brian Kingston, school principal Frankie Andrews, members of the Board of Governors, BELB staff and local neighbourhood PSNI officers also attended the meeting.

Speaking after the meeting, William Humphrey said: “It is alarming and deeply concerning that there have been four attacks against the school premises over the past two weekends.

“These incidents have been raised with me and my party colleagues by parents and by residents living close to the school.

“On one evening around 8 windows were smashed after being hit repeatedly with a heavy object. On two occasions fires have been lit which risked setting the building on fire.

“Flower pots planted by pupils have also been destroyed and youths have been seen running along the roof of the building.

“These senseless attacks have caused serious disruption and upset and could have had a catastrophic outcome had the building caught fire.

“We impressed on the PSNI that increased attention must be paid by passing patrols and that any people seen on the school grounds in the evenings and weekends must be challenged.

“The PSNI will endeavour to circulate a leaflet in the immediate area and they will be calling at the homes of youths whose names have been passed on by members of the public.

“We expressed strong concern over the availability of police patrols and will be pursuing this matter at a meeting with the District Commander and through DPCSP meetings.

“The BELB has undertaken to carry out a full review of security arrangements in association with the school, including looking at the adequacy of fencing and the option of CCTV cameras as have been installed elsewhere.

“Parents have carried out fund-raising to create an outdoor classroom, including decking and seating, over the summer months and they are very concerned that this feature could suffer from vandalism and intrusion.

“We will continue to push for all possible measures to prevent any more vandalism and we will be following up these issues at a further meeting before the end of June.

“In the meantime we appeal for vigilance and for anyone who can assist the police to identify those responsible for these disgraceful attacks to pass on that information without delay.”