Stormont Ring Fenced - Just In Time For Bush Visit

Although originally prompted by the botched terror raid by renegade loyalist, Michael Stone in November 2006, a virtual 'ring of steel' at Stormont to protect Ulster's politicians - which has cost the taxpayer over half a million pounds - may have more to do with this week's US presidential visit than the initial breaches by the convicted killer.

The tough new security arrangements were installed at Parliament Buildings earlier this year following the attack, but the short period between completion and the trip to Belfast by President George Bush - which today includes a visit to Stormont, may have been 'encouraged' by nervous US security personnel, anxious about their boss's safety in NI.


The new enforcements include the relocation of a new outdoor search facility (£34,674), the installation of railings and fencing on the building's parameter (£88,000) and new X-ray equipment (£123,000).

The largest outlay was a fee for the presence of PSNI officers which totalled £181,000. Other costs included a new PA system (£34,475), barriers (£13,200) and associated services (£43,500).

The information, via a Belfast News Letter Freedom of Information (FOI) request, has shown a total of £558,000 of public money has been spent to date to shield our public representatives from intrusion.

The revelation comes only days before the high profile visit to Stormont by US president George Bush, when security will be paramount.

Meanwhile, the eve of US President George Bush's Belfast visit saw Amnesty International staging a protest in Belfast over rendition flights and conditions in Guantanamo.

Around 40 activists dressed in prisoner-style 'orange jumpsuits' marched through the city centre.

Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty's Northern Ireland Programme Director, said people were concerned about human rights.

He wants NI Executive leaders, Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness to call on President Bush today to put an end to the controversial interrogation technique of waterboarding – a method he said simulates drowning and has been condemned as torture by rights groups.

(BMcC)