Naomi Long MLA @naomi_long@respublicae.eu

@Martin47513375 @mraff6 @mandy_mcauley @PSNIMEADistrict @ChiefConPSNI @JudiciaryNI @thePPSNI I grew up in a neighbourhood blighted by paramilitaries, it's very much still part of my community, and I'm well aware of the challenges.

People do want them gone but are afraid to give evidence: without evidence, the police and courts can't remove them. That's the challenge.

🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/naomi_long/status/1602955336574722048

@johnjoe198467 @TonyStillHere25 @ninnythebear @westie1988ie @mandy_mcauley Requires evidence. That's the issue. Everyone knows who they are, but proving it in court is a different matter. We need the police and community to work together, but people are afraid

🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/naomi_long/status/1602954395800436738

RT @PaulaJaneB: Be careful of frozen pipes in this cold weather! 🥶

Be sure to:
✅Lag pipes and check lagging is secure,
✅Insulate your water tank,
✅Fix dripping taps,
✅Check where your stop valve is located

Get your free stop valve tag from @niwnews:
https://www.niwater.com/free-stop-valve-tag/

🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/naomi_long/status/1602940174576807937

@PaddyOrMick @pbmosligo @allianceparty I have no idea.

🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/naomi_long/status/1602940033518178305

@ninnythebear It takes a special kind of eejit to ignore the actual story here and make it about your hatred of me.

Earned yourself a block 👍

🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/naomi_long/status/1602934202974064641

@tell1999 @allianceparty You're part of the problem. The inability to address the problem at hand without deflecting.

🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/naomi_long/status/1602933381599305728

@pbmosligo @allianceparty Agreed. The paramilitaries exploit vulnerability: we need to tackle that vulnerability as well as respond to the targeting.

🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/naomi_long/status/1602932807713660929

RT @BBCSpotlightNI: Coming up at 10.40pm on BBC One Northern Ireland: @mandy_mcauley investigates Loan Sharks and Paramilitaries
⁩

🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/naomi_long/status/1602862557391458306

RT @allianceparty: Targets of paramilitary loan sharks are victims themselves, says @stewartcdickson

See more here -

https://www.allianceparty.org/targets_of_paramilitary_loan_sharks_are_victims_themselves_says_dickson

🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/naomi_long/status/1602861985871564800

@duncan_morrow He was a true gentleman. A peace-builder who always put victims at the heart of his work. So sad to learn of his passing.

🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/naomi_long/status/1602861721735303168

RT @PMcReynoldsMLA: At the @EBCDA AGM and hearing from community leaders who are supporting, changing and improving East Belfast.

🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/naomi_long/status/1602859836148166657

RT @PaulaJaneB: Met w/ @RCollEM this morning along w/ @DannyDonnelly1 to discuss the huge pressures facing the Emergency Departments.

The need for wide spread transformation & reform across the entire health & social care system has never been greater.

We need a functioning government now!

🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/naomi_long/status/1602859807723102213

RT @KateNicholl: The Sunak Government had a chance to change the UK’s broken, callous immigration system. It had a chance to end the racist dog whistles & blatant lies around asylum & migration. Instead they’ve doubled down to divide & distract from their own failings. Shame on you @rishisunak

🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/naomi_long/status/1602850835410849792

RT @KateNicholl: Seeking asylum is a human right - those seeking sanctuary are not “illegal”. Shameful language from @BelTel.

🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/naomi_long/status/1602849175078862851

@keithbelfast @chrisadonnelly Things in 2022 are probably better in all schools, but my personal experience in @BloomCollegiate and all-girls organisations like @ggulster, fostered in me a belief that I should never accept any limits on my role or contribution as woman in society.

So you know who to blame 😉

🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/naomi_long/status/1602848604925952007

@keithbelfast @chrisadonnelly Ideally, I'd want that to be the case in every school, including co-ed, but unconscious bias and sexism often mean it isn't.

I was very fortunate: apart from the academic advantage for girls, my school told us in the 80s that we could (and should) do anything we wanted to.

🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/naomi_long/status/1602846893712736261

@keithbelfast @chrisadonnelly For me, as a girl, I had space to learn and grow in a supportive environment.

I was encouraged to believe that STEM subjects were absolutely for girls and that studying engineering was absolutely for me.

That should be standard in any school: in my day, sadly it wasn't.

🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/naomi_long/status/1602845737590693889

@SamaritansNI @ShellKell00 @samaritans As are we. She is an incredible woman, and our lives would be so much poorer without her in them.

Thank you for all you do to support those in need of a listening ear and empathetic voice.

🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/naomi_long/status/1602844396084502529

RT @ShellKell00: I’ll freely share that @SamaritansNI were a lifeline for me at my lowest ebb.

Whatever you're going through, a Samaritan will face it with you - 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Call 116 123. @samaritans

🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/naomi_long/status/1602843969901182976

@mraff6 @mandy_mcauley @PSNIMEADistrict @ChiefConPSNI In fairness, sentencing is a matter for @JudiciaryNI, not @thePPSNI or @ChiefConPSNI.

I think everyone recognises the destructive impact of these paramilitary-styled gangsters on our community: we need a concerted effort against them involving the community and justice system.

🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/naomi_long/status/1602843297113841666