Former loyalist paramilitaries have made an unprecedented public pledge to stand against Northern Ireland’s growing racism problem, the Belfast Telegraph can reveal.
The vow comes after a number of ex-UDA men took part in a groundbreaking anti-racism training programme — backed by the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister — which culminated in a visit to Poland.
A number of former UVF members are also due to complete their training within the next few weeks with a visit to the country.
The news comes amid claims that more than 40 foreign nationals have been intimidated out of loyalist parts of Belfast over the past two weeks.
The Polish Association has said that following violent clashes between Northern Ireland and Polish football fans before a World Cup qualifier earlier this month, 46 people fled the Village area of south Belfast and Albertbridge Road area in the east of the city because of physical abuse and attacks on property.
Loyalist paramilitaries have in the past been associated with racist attacks, but their involvement in this City and Guilds accredited programme is being seen as a clear indication they are now dedicated to working against it.
And the Belfast Telegraph has learned that former IRA members from south Armagh, Tyrone, Cavan and Monaghan have contacted course organisers about running similar schemes in their areas.
To date 36 loyalists — many of whom are ex-UDA, UFF and UVF men — have passed level one of the pilot scheme entitled ‘The Thin End of the Wedge’.
The pilot programme is currently mainly focused on working to eradicate racist attacks on Polish people living in loyalist areas of Belfast. However, it is hoped it will be rolled out to include other minority groups living in Northern Ireland.
Members of the Lower Shankill Community Association, who have just returned from Poland where they visited the concentration camps of Auschwitz, Birkenau and Plasnow, said the programme has helped them understand the potential “dangerous outcomes of racism”. The group includes a number of former paramilitary figures.
A spokesman for the group added: “The group agreed that historically, and indeed in certain conditions relating to present society, racism still exists and that at every opportunity this wrong within should be abhorred and every effort made to create a society free from such activity and mindsets.
“It is therefore our intention to spread the learning and findings of this course to our wider communities and in doing so create a tolerance of all races and groups within our society.”
Shankill community worker Frank Higgins — from specialist training company Transition Training — who delivers the course, said he approached loyalist group leaderships to try to encourage participation in the scheme as he was concerned about the growth of racism in the area.
“I explained that this issue is really starting to raise its head — that it is no longer sectarian but there is a much deeper undercurrent. I told them that this is how I think it can be dealt with. This project helps participants look at themselves from the outside in,” he said.
“The course can be modulised for each community depending on the type of racist issues that affect that area,” Mr Higgins added.
One loyalist who has completed the course said: “I think this course can change ideas about their (Polish) culture and would be a good thing for better community relations in Northern Ireland.”
Director of the Polish Association in Belfast, Maciek Bator, said the programme “will help build real relationships between the Polish and loyalist community in Belfast and we fully support its roll out.” continues here
The vow comes after a number of ex-UDA men took part in a groundbreaking anti-racism training programme — backed by the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister — which culminated in a visit to Poland.
A number of former UVF members are also due to complete their training within the next few weeks with a visit to the country.
The news comes amid claims that more than 40 foreign nationals have been intimidated out of loyalist parts of Belfast over the past two weeks.
The Polish Association has said that following violent clashes between Northern Ireland and Polish football fans before a World Cup qualifier earlier this month, 46 people fled the Village area of south Belfast and Albertbridge Road area in the east of the city because of physical abuse and attacks on property.
Loyalist paramilitaries have in the past been associated with racist attacks, but their involvement in this City and Guilds accredited programme is being seen as a clear indication they are now dedicated to working against it.
And the Belfast Telegraph has learned that former IRA members from south Armagh, Tyrone, Cavan and Monaghan have contacted course organisers about running similar schemes in their areas.
To date 36 loyalists — many of whom are ex-UDA, UFF and UVF men — have passed level one of the pilot scheme entitled ‘The Thin End of the Wedge’.
The pilot programme is currently mainly focused on working to eradicate racist attacks on Polish people living in loyalist areas of Belfast. However, it is hoped it will be rolled out to include other minority groups living in Northern Ireland.
Members of the Lower Shankill Community Association, who have just returned from Poland where they visited the concentration camps of Auschwitz, Birkenau and Plasnow, said the programme has helped them understand the potential “dangerous outcomes of racism”. The group includes a number of former paramilitary figures.
A spokesman for the group added: “The group agreed that historically, and indeed in certain conditions relating to present society, racism still exists and that at every opportunity this wrong within should be abhorred and every effort made to create a society free from such activity and mindsets.
“It is therefore our intention to spread the learning and findings of this course to our wider communities and in doing so create a tolerance of all races and groups within our society.”
Shankill community worker Frank Higgins — from specialist training company Transition Training — who delivers the course, said he approached loyalist group leaderships to try to encourage participation in the scheme as he was concerned about the growth of racism in the area.
“I explained that this issue is really starting to raise its head — that it is no longer sectarian but there is a much deeper undercurrent. I told them that this is how I think it can be dealt with. This project helps participants look at themselves from the outside in,” he said.
“The course can be modulised for each community depending on the type of racist issues that affect that area,” Mr Higgins added.
One loyalist who has completed the course said: “I think this course can change ideas about their (Polish) culture and would be a good thing for better community relations in Northern Ireland.”
Director of the Polish Association in Belfast, Maciek Bator, said the programme “will help build real relationships between the Polish and loyalist community in Belfast and we fully support its roll out.” continues here
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