Memorial Garden Attacked AGAIN At 1.30 in the morning of the 11th September 2006 a gang of up to 8 men from the republican Short Strand attacked 3 young people walking home along the Newtownards Road after a night out in the Odyssey complex. The 3 youngsters naturally fled up the Newtownards Road as they didn’t want to become the next victims of the republican hate squads that regularly attack members of our community.

The attackers couldn’t keep up with the youngsters so they turned their attention on the Memorial Garden that was built by the people from east Belfast to remember in particular 2 innocent Protestant men murdered in cold blood by the Provisional IRA whilst returning home from a night out. Sounds familiar doesn’t it.

The attackers shouted IRA slogans as they retreated up Bryson Street. Behind them they left a trail of destruction as once again our beautiful garden was destroyed leaving the families of the bereaved devastated and local residents dismayed.

The East Belfast Historical and Cultural Society once dawn broke notified the families of Jimmy McCurrie and Bobby Neill. Their distress at this turn of events was clear for all to see. As a Society we condemn the attack without reservation. Our community want to move forward whilst at the same time remembering those who have been murdered without this sectarian hatred displayed by residents from Short Strand flaring up every so often.

The police have informed local politicians that people will be charged over the attack. Hopefully the charges will fall under the new hate crime legislation.

Below are some photographs of the aftermath from this latest attack...