Latest news with #PaulMaskey
Irish Independent
14-06-2025
- Irish Independent
‘Absolutely absurd' – Anger as another 5G mast set ablaze in west Belfast
The latest incident – the third in a week – happened in the Poleglass area. Images show the mast ablaze. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey called for an end to attacks on 5G masts in the community. 'This continued campaign is irrational and absolutely absurd,' he said. 'These attacks are self-destructive, self-defeating, and amount to an attack on the entire community. 'They are causing serious disruption, endangering lives, and this futile behaviour must stop immediately. "I will continue to speak with police to ensure they are doing all they can to identify those responsible and hold them to account.' The PSNI said officers received a report of a fire in the Kestrel Grange area of Dunmurry. Sergeant Brown said: "Officers attended, alongside colleagues from the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service, following a report that a 5G mast was alight shortly before 9.40pm. "This is just one of a number of 5G masts that have been set on fire recently and I cannot emphasise enough the dangers of lighting fire to electrical equipment. "This is extremely reckless, and those responsible are putting themselves and members of the public at serious risk. "On top of that risk, there is a significant financial impact to the mast-owners as they work to correct the damage, as well as the impact on the local community in terms of mobile phone service. 'We continue to engage with local representatives and the mast-owners around the issue. 'We are treating this as arson, and would ask that anyone with information contact us on 101 quoting reference 1637 of 13/6/25."
BBC News
13-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
West Belfast: Fire service in attendance at 5G mast blaze
The Northern Ireland Fire Service (NIFRS) is currently attending a fire at a 5G mast in west fire appliances and one aerial appliance were dispatched to the blaze on the Colin have been a series of arson attacks on 5G masts in west Belfast, with the fire service recording 13 incidents between January 2023 and December MP for the area, Sinn Féin's Paul Maskey, said it's "shameful that another vital phone mast has been vandalised tonight." "This will only cause more issues for local residents who will lose even more phone signal," he added. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said a fire at a mast on the Stewartstown Road on Wednesday, and a fire on a different mast at an industrial estate in Dunmurry on Saturday were both said the attacks "are causing serious harm to our community and putting lives at risk"."Those involved in targeting vital infrastructure in west Belfast must end this reckless and destructive behaviour."He said his party "completely condemn these attacks. They must end now".
Belfast Telegraph
11-06-2025
- Belfast Telegraph
Burning of 5G masts ‘reckless and destructive' says MP as fire service tackles second Belfast blaze in a week
The PSNI and Northern Ireland Fire Service responded to reports of a fire in the Stewartstown Road area shortly before 12:30am on Wednesday, June 11. Emergency services also responded to reports of a separate 5G mast fire in the Poleglass area over the weekend. Sergeant Burns said: "We attended this alongside colleagues from Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service who worked to extinguish the blaze of a 5G mast tower which had been set alight deliberately. "This is just one of a number of 5G masts that have been set on fire in recent months and we have attended two fires in less than a week to masts in the same area.' Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey called on those responsible to stop 'harming our community'. 'Those involved in targeting vital infrastructure in west Belfast must end this reckless and destructive behaviour," said the West Belfast MP. 'They are causing serious harm to our community and putting lives at risk. 'This is happening at a time when there is a clear and growing demand for better connectivity, with thousands of residents reporting poor mobile signal. 'I'm in London today to make the case directly to network providers that urgent investment is needed to upgrade infrastructure in areas that have been left behind. 'These disgraceful actions will not deter us from our campaign to secure better mobile coverage for our communities. Anyone with information should contact the PSNI." Sergeant Burns said that those setting 5G masts alight are putting themselves and members of the public at risk. He added: "I cannot stress enough how dangerous it is lighting fire to electrical equipment. Anyone setting an illegal fire is acting extremely recklessly and putting not only themselves, but also members of the public, at risk. 'The damage caused costs the mast-owners a substantial amount of money to correct, and affects the mobile phone service of the local community." News Catch Up - Wednesday 11th June 2025 Yesterday's attack brings the total number of 5G masts destroyed in the west Belfast area over the past two years to more than thirteen. It follows a 5G mast in the Poleglass area being set alight at the weekend. Two fire appliances and an aerial platform were tasked to the blaze in the Springbank Industrial estate in west Belfast at around 2.30pm on Saturday. A survey carried out by Sinn Féin, published in the Andersonstown News in May, revealed that 87 percent of people in west Belfast reported that their phone signal was poor or very poor. Only three percent of the 2,600 respondents stated their signal was good or excellent. The report listed the top three areas for poor signal across West Belfast as being the Glen Road, Turf Lodge, and Andersonstown areas. A police investigation into the attacks on 5G masts remains ongoing.
BreakingNews.ie
08-06-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Belfast 5G mast set alight in suspected deliberate attack
The burning of a 5G mast on the outskirt of Belfast is being treated as a suspected deliberate attack. The incident happened in the Springbank Industrial estate in Dunmurry on Saturday. Advertisement A police spokesperson said they received a report shortly after 2.40pm that a 5G mast has been set alight in the area. 'Colleagues from Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service attended and extinguished the fire,' they said. 'Inquiries are continuing and at this stage, the fire is being treated as deliberate ignition. 'We are appealing to anyone who was in the area and who may have information, dash-cam or other footage, to contact us on 101, quoting reference number 801 07/06/25.' Advertisement Sinn Féin West Belfast MP Paul Maskey condemned the incident. 'I want to strongly condemn the latest suspected arson attack on a 5G mast,' he said. 'This behaviour is both ludicrous and absolutely nonsensical. 'Just a few weeks ago, Sinn Fein published the results of a survey highlighting widespread mobile signal black spots across the west of the city — some of which are due to damage caused to masts. Advertisement 'We will continue our efforts to secure better mobile coverage for our communities. 'Those responsible for this disgraceful vandalism must be brought to justice, and I urge anyone with information to come forward and contact the PSNI.'
Sunday World
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Sunday World
Rangers fans furious over Sinn Féin MP's visit to Ibrox to raise cash for charity
The West Belfast MP was singled out for vicious abuse on social media after he visited Rangers' Ibrox Stadium in Glasgow and was pictured standing next to former star player Gordon Durie on the famous marble staircase. The cyclists at the statue at Ibrox West Belfast MP Paul Maskey at a Palestine protest on the Falls Road this week Sinn Fein MP Paul Maskey became a hate figure for some Rangers fans this week after crossing the sectarian divide to raise money for charity, the Sunday World has learned. The West Belfast MP was singled out for vicious abuse on social media after he visited Rangers' Ibrox Stadium in Glasgow and was pictured standing next to former star player Gordon Durie on the famous marble staircase. He had gone to Glasgow as part of a charity cycle event which visited both Ibrox and the home of their arch-rivals, Celtic Park, to pay tribute to players from both clubs who had suffered or died from Motor Neurone Disease. But some Rangers fans were outraged that their club had welcomed a prominent member of Sinn Féin. One post claimed Sinn Féin had supported an IRA attack in Ligoneil in which three young Scottish Royal Highland Fusiliers lost their life five decades ago. Paul Maskey was five years old at the time of the triple murder. West Belfast MP Paul Maskey at a Palestine protest on the Falls Road this week One outraged fan posted: 'FFS Rangers' while another stated: 'This is too far.' Another posted: 'Maskey should have been chased from Ibrox, a SF scumbag.' Facebook lit up with a flood of hostile remarks being aimed at Mr Maskey as well as the Rangers Football Club. Many of the insults are too abusive to print. But the 57-year-old West Belfast MP shrugged off the abuse and said the attention only led to more donations coming in for the charity effort, which has raised more than £30,000. Mr Maskey wrote: 'An unforgettable journey completed – cycling from Belfast to Parkhead & Ibrox in memory of Anto Finnegan, raising £25,000 (and counting) for DeterMND.' He added: 'Thank you to everyone who rode, supported and donated. Your kindness means the world. All for a truly great cause.' The West Belfast MP also posted a picture of Rangers' 'welcome' mat inside the stadium's front door. Former Rangers star Gordon Durie – when told later he had been snapped smiling alongside a Sinn Féin politician – replied: 'I didn't know who it was. I just thought it was someone from the charity.' But speaking to the Sunday World, Paul Maskey MP, said he preferred to focus on the money raised for a good cause. It had been staged to raise funds for DeterMND, a charity set up in honour of Anto Finnegan, a Gaelic footballer from west Belfast who had captained Antrim. The cyclists met the Finnegan family at Celtic Park. Anto was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND)in August 2012 and he passed away in 2021. The cyclists at the statue at Ibrox Leaving Belfast last Friday morning, the cycle group arrived for a pre-arranged visit to Ibrox, where they were welcomed by larger-than-life Rangers' fan and well-known charity fundraiser, Andy Smyllie. Millionaire businessman Mr Smyllie looked on as the visitors laid a wreath in memory of Rangers star Fernando Ricksen, who succumbed to MND six years ago. And while at Ibrox, the cyclists were presented with a cheque for £3,000 for the charity. The Belfast group then continued on their journey across the city to Celtic Park in the Parkhead district, where they met relatives of Anto Brennan and the family of Celtic legend Jimmy Johnstone, who also died of MND two decades ago.
