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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
National
Nadia Breen

East Belfast GAA issue statement as security alert concludes

East Belfast GAA have issued a statement as a security alert concluded on Tuesday evening.

Police remain at the scene of the alert at playing fields in the Church Road area of Castlereagh on May 23.

A road closure at the junction of the Church Road and Manse Road remains in place at this time.

Read more: Police attend security alert in East Belfast - LIVE updates

East Belfast GAA are among clubs which use the playing fields on Church Road.

After almost 24 hours of searches the PSNI said: A security alert at playing fields in the Church Road area of Castlereagh has now ended. Nothing untoward has been found following extensive searches."

A statement issued by the club on social media on Monday night said: "East Belfast GAA are disheartened to hear about the recent security alert at Henry Jones Playing Fields. We, alongside many sports teams in East Belfast who share these pitches, have worked hard to revive these facilities for all members of the community and are saddened at those who threaten to disrupt the peace and cause alarm.

"This is especially disappointing following the positive news that some of the underutilised space at Henry Jones will be reallocated to facilitate a GAA pitch following a meeting of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee of Belfast City Council (BCC) on Friday 24th March. This will be the first BCC GAA pitch in East Belfast and is long overdue."

It also added: "Positive Impact On The Community - East Belfast GAA teams have trained at the venue since the Club was founded in the summer of 2020, nearly three years ago. We have worked closely with BCC and want to place on record our gratitude for this as well as the city councillors, from all sides of the political spectrum in East Belfast, who have made this possible.

"The underutilisation of space meant that four football pitches had been used for around 100 hours per year by football clubs. GAA teams used these facilities for around 300 hours per year. This space will now be used in a more efficient manner with one full-size GAA pitch and one full-size football pitch accommodating both GAA and local football clubs. Any displacement has been resolved to the satisfaction of all concerned with the assistance of BCC."

It continued: "Our Club And Our Story - East Belfast GAA is one of the fastest-growing sports clubs in the city. Our membership is diverse, and we are proud to be part of an ever-changing, multicultural city.

"Our hundreds of members who live, work and pay their rates in this city deserve to stay active and healthy, playing whichever sport they so choose. The current situation where our members play on rugby, football and GAA pitches throughout the West, South, and North of the city is untenable and unfair and we welcome this decision.

"We stand together, le chéile, thegither."

In an update from the PSNI on Monday morning, a spokesperson said: "A security alert at playing fields in the Church Road area of Castlereagh remains ongoing this morning, Tuesday 23rd May."

Sergeant Creelan added: “The playing fields remain closed this morning while searches are being carried out. Ammunition technical officers are currently in attendance at the scene.

“A road closure at the junction of the Church Road and Manse Road remains in place at this time.

“Members of the public, including motorists, are reminded to avoid the area. We will provide a further update in due course.”

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