Centre to re-open after 'threats'

Cregagh Youth and Community Centre is due to re-open

An east Belfast community centre which closed after alleged threats from a loyalist paramilitary group is due to re-open.

Castlereagh Borough Council closed Cregagh Youth and Community Centre on Friday because of staff safety.

It is due to open on Wednesday following a meeting on Monday night.

Alliance councillor Michael Long said it was "unacceptable" that staff had been "threatened" but he was glad that "sense has prevailed".

"This incident in Cregagh has left staff and others in the local area shaken," he said.

"It is essential that facilities designed to look after the local community, particularly the younger members of it, are accessible for all and it is intolerable that local people have lost use of this essential service over recent days.

"Staff must also know they can get on with the job without fear.

"It is unacceptable that our staff have been threatened in this way by loyalist paramilitaries.

"It is clear that the UUP in Castlereagh have questions to answer about whether they will continue to support a pact at Stormont which structurally links them to the paramilitary groups most likely to have been involved in these threats."

A PSNI spokesperson said at the time that police were investigating the matter.