According to a report in the Irish News, Belfast City Council officials “had talks with members of Óglaigh na hÉireann (ONH)” and “are believed to have sought assurances from members of ONH that employees would be safe” before extending the community warden scheme to Ardoyne.
The republican source said: “The council was basically told that as long as the wardens were not acting as the eyes and ears of the PSNI in monitoring republicans then they would not be touched.”
A spokeswoman for the council said: “Before our community safety wardens are deployed to an area in the city to carry out high-visibility foot patrols helping to create a safer Belfast, the council carries out consultation with the local community and our partner agencies which include the Police Service of Northern Ireland, NIO and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.
“As in the Ardoyne area, we sought the engagement and the support of the local community as well as feedback from our agency partners before the community safety wardens were deployed.”
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