Member's statement: VE Day Celebrations: North Belfast
Member's statement by Mr Phillip Brett on .
- MLA
- Mr Phillip Brett
- Party at the time
- Democratic Unionist Party
- Date
- 20 May 2025
- Type
- Member's statement
- Business
- Members' Statements
- Heading
- VE Day Celebrations: North Belfast
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 4963751
Read the official Assembly record
Text
Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. First, I associate myself with the remarks that were made about Dementia Action Week, and I take this opportunity to pay tribute to my constituent Emily Wilson for her tireless work and campaigning on that important issue. As we mark the end of the VE Day anniversary and celebrations, I pay tribute to the communities the length and breadth of my North Belfast constituency that gave of their time to ensure that we commemorated and celebrated that important event. From Sandyknowes roundabout to the Shankill Road and everywhere in between, communities put on a great show. I will certainly and happily take this opportunity to name a few. I was delighted to attend events that were organised by the RATH Community Group; the Sons of Kai Flute Band; North Belfast Orange hall, from where my dodgy dancing skills have gone viral; Crusaders Football Club, which used the opportunity to raise funds for local charities; the White City over-50s; Seniors by the Shore; the Ballysillan Cultural Initiative; Alexandra Presbyterian Church; the Rathfern Social Activity Centre; Mountainview Battlefields Association; the Shore Crescent women's group; Rathcoole CREW; the Queens Park women's group; the Community Relations Council; and Lower Shankill residents' group. The most poignant event was the opening of the military arch on the Shankill Road. It was attended by thousands of people from across Northern Ireland and was a fitting tribute to the men, women and children who gave their life for the freedom that we enjoy today. The arch was opened by World War II hero Victor Clarke and modern-day hero Andy Allen MLA. People from all communities and none came together to mark VE Day. As a representative of North Belfast, I say how proud I am of each and every one of those groups and I thank them for their continued service in ensuring that we remember our fallen heroes.
317 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Jev’s structured answers met the documented threshold for “not flagged”.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.07 (flagging needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not flagged).
- None of the five culture-war criteria was met (each was below 0.60).
- No identity-based framing was identified (0.99).
- Subject area: Religion and belief (including people of no religion), churches, faith communities and religious prejudice (including antisemitism and anti-Muslim prejudice).
- The overall probability was at or below the not-flagging threshold.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.07 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.02 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.04 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.03 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.05 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.03 | No |
| Overall judgement | 0.07 | At or below not-flagging threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 0.99 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.00 |
| Adopts it | 0.01 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| Religion and belief (including people of no religion), churches, faith communities and religious prejudice (including antisemitism and anti-Muslim prejudice) | 0.39 |
| Parades, bonfires and commemorations | 0.29 |
| Sectarianism, hate crime and community relations | 0.13 |
| Disability (including neurodivergence and mental health), disabled people and disability or sickness benefits | 0.08 |
| Flags, emblems, symbols, names and memorials | 0.04 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 12:32 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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