THE DUP has been accused of attempting to create a “sectarian scare story” after a member claimed that unionists could feel “intimidated” by attending a polling station in a nationalist area.
Ligoniel Community Centre in north Belfast is to be used for the general election on June 8 instead of St Mark’s Ballysillan Church, a short distance away.
Repair work to the church roof has forced the Electoral Office NI to switch location.
However, a prominent DUP activist has claimed the community centre is “quite a distance into the republican end of Ligoniel” and unionist voters have voiced concerns about using it.
Dale Pankhurst, a former chair of the party's North and West Belfast Youth Branch who is canvassing for outgoing MP Nigel Dodds, described the move as "disgraceful".
He tweeted: “We will be offering lifts and remaining with the unionist voters while they cast their vote so that they do not feel intimidated etc.”
A spokeswoman for the Electoral Office confirmed the move was due to repair work, but said the community centre was “within sight” of the Church of Ireland building.
A Sinn Féin spokesman said: “Ligoniel Community Centre is just 350 yards from St Mark’s Church.
“This tweet smacks of another desperate DUP attempt to try to manufacture a sectarian scare story.
“Anyone going to cast their vote at the community centre will be able to do so free from intimidation and fear and will be treated with respect by the people of Ligoniel.”
North Belfast SDLP candidate Martin McAuley also labelled the tweet an "outrageous slur on an entire community", adding: "No one has anything to fear from exercising their right to vote in Ligoniel."
The DUP declined to comment when contacted by The Irish News.
