Belfast enclave waits in fear behind steel tiles and triple glazing

By David McKittrick, Ireland Correspondent, Irish Independent, June 7, 2003

The approach of the summer always signals an increase in tension for the residents of Short Strand - an isolated Catholic enclave on Belfast's peaceline.

This year, they are leaving nothing to chance. More than forty homes damaged by last summer's sustained sectarian violence are now being fitted with solid-steel roof tiles which, the authorities believe, should withstand even an explosion. The homes, in east Belfast, are also being fitted with triple-glazed security windows

But these steel tiles and strengthened windows are indistinguishable from standard materials, so that the veritable fortresses look as if they are ordinary homes. Although some tests have been run on the new defences, the hope is that they will not have to face the ultimate examination - the full onslaught of a violent Belfast marching season.

Catholics and Protestants are getting the new protection. Last year around Short Strand, an isolated Catholic area surrounded by often hostile loyalists, the projectiles used by assailants included pipe bombs, blast bombs, petrol bombs and acid bombs.

There were also large rivets, heavy nuts and bolts, fireworks, golf balls and other missiles, which black humorists christened "Belfast confetti". The steel roofing is important because one particularly malevolent tactic consists of mounting an initial barrage to make a hole in the roof. Once a gap opens, rioters switch to hurling petrol bombs.

So far fingers are crossed that this year's political vacuum will not be filled by street disturbances, with many community leaders and others working hard behind the scenes to ensure a calmer summer than last year.

But the Northern Ireland Housing Executive is pioneering the new measures in reluctant recognition of the fact that, even if this turns out to be a quiet summer, Short Strand is prone to violent scenes.

This means that the extra cost of roofing a home with steel tiles - £2,500 compared with the usual £1,500 - is judged worth it because conventional tiles are smashed so often. Steel tiles are used in industrial and other applications, but those used at Short Strand are double the typical thickness.

At the height of last year's disturbances, scores of homes needed repairs almost every day. The steel covering is partly aimed at cutting costs, but that is not its main purpose.

A spokesman for the housing executive said: "The whole point of doing this is to provide security, but we want it to be aesthetically pleasing and not make the place look like a fortress. You don't want to make people feel they're in turreted army bases.

"Material like this can give protection but still look as if it's a normal house. When you create a hostile environment, with everyone thinking they're living under siege, that hardens views and makes people more angry".

Doors have also been strengthened with a new three-point locking system. The windows developed by the executive have three layers of protection. Internally they consist of two sheets of strong laminated glass. But outside is clear polycarbonate sheeting, which is the fire-retardant material used for police riot shields. This means that each window is protected by more than two centimetres of material.

A housing executive expert explained: "We tested various materials in different thicknesses. One withstands a brick - but as soon as we hit it with a heavy bolt it shatters. The window is exposed and then a petrol bomb goes in. We found that the more layers and combinations we put together, the stronger and more robust against missiles it became."

The new windows look nice, butnot strong. Do they work? One local man answered the question by picking up a large stone and swinging it hard against his back-garden window. It left not a scratch.

Another local said of the new windows: "It's actually beautiful because they give a nice slight green tinge to things - it's really lovely." But this is only a tiny consolation, which does little to dispel the deep underlying sense of vulnerability and threat, particularly on the beleaguered Catholic side.

The peaceline walls, which are up to 28 feet high (eight metres) in places, are a constant reminder of the area's volatility.

"Everyone's mentally scarred to some extent," said the local man. "People still have nightmares, dashing downstairs in the middle of the night because they think their house is on fire, before they realise it's just a bad dream."

The Short Strand's problem is that it is perched on one of Belfast's historic faultlines. Defensive architecture can provide some reassurance, but for many life will continue to be as hard as their new steel tiles.