Pensioners stage Stormont protest

HUNDREDS of older people across Northern Ireland congregated at Stormont to demonstrate their growing plight with the increased cost of living.

The public rally was organised by Age Sector Platform, Help the Aged in Northern Ireland and Age Concern NI.

The 'Can't Heat or Eat' campaign was taken to directly to local politicians, calling on them to help older people, in particular over the most difficult winter months.

The high-profile protest took place agianst the backdrop of Government paralysis at Stormont.

The Executive has not met for over 150 days, due to a political impasse between the DUP and Sinn Fein.

Alliance leader David Ford, who addressed the crowd at Parliament Buildings, described it as despicable that the Executive had not met, despite the economic crisis.

"Older people are the ones who will suffer most this winter. Lives will undoubtedly be lost in the coming months due to fuel poverty and that is frightening," he said.

"This demonstration is a big indication of the public's discontentment at the failure of the Stormont Executive to deal with the real concerns of the public."