18 October 2001

BUS ATTACKS AFFECT THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, SAYS MINISTER

Attacking buses with stones is an attack on the entire community, Regional Development Minister, Gregory Campbell, MP MLA, said today.

The Minister was commenting on the statement by Translink that in the past year some 3,500 bus windows have been replaced as a result of attacks on the buses at a cost of £350,000.

Mr Campbell said: "Public transport is an essential service for all sections of our community. Therefore, these wicked attacks on buses are an indiscriminate attack on the whole community.

"Attacking buses, putting the lives of passengers and drivers at risk, is a cowardly act that must be condemned.

"We have a collective responsibility to protect essential services much as public transport. As a community we must signal that this will not be tolerated and that those who commit these attacks will be shunned.

"As Minister with responsibility for transport I have endeavoured to promote public transport and encourage its greater use. I am particularly conscious of our obligations to senior citizens, mothers, and young people.

"These attacks, and the expenditure incurred make it increasingly difficult for Translink to provide normal services, at a time when all our efforts should be on improving public transport."