5 October 2025
Responding to media reports that loyalist paramilitaries intend to burn any van featuring the Irish language, SDLP Belfast City Council Group Leader Councillor Séamas de Faoite said:
“Paramilitaries shouldn’t exist, whether that’s to make ‘threats’ or to brief newspapers.
“The council’s Irish language policy simply seeks to recognise the legitimate place of the Irish language and its importance to many people in our city and across this island.
“We will work with the council and its staff at every opportunity to ensure that this policy is successful.”