29 July 1999 Edition

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Sectarian attack condemned

Pádraig MacDabhaid

A 17-year-old woman and her three-month-old baby were intimidated out of their home in the Strule Park estate in Omagh following a sectarian attack by stone throwing youths.

Barry McElduff, Sinn Féin's West Tyrone Assembly member, condemned the attack. ``Effectively, a young mother and her child were physically intimidated out of their home by stone-throwers in the middle of the night. The young family have only been living in Strule Park for a short while. They were attacked it seems, because the young mother, a Catholic, is currently going out with a Protestant.

Members of Sinn Féin have since visited the estate, leafleting houses with a statement outlining their abhorrence of the attack. McElduff says that ``Sinn Féin wishes to state clearly and directly that sectarianism from any quarter is totally wrong and should not be tolerated.

``We wish to commend these local residents who came to the young woman's assistance during and after her ordeal and community activists who are working extremely hard to develop facilities and opportunities for local people.''

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