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9 August 2001 Edition

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Loyalist attacks 2001

Compiled solely from reports carried by An Phoblacht, the list containedd in this week's issue is a far from comprehensive list of loyalist attacks. It more closely reflects those incidents that have attracted media attention. Furthermore, it cites only loyalist violence directed against the northern nationalist community.

Loyalist violence against other loyalists, for example during feuding between rival loyalist groupings, has been omitted. Loyalist intimidation of members of their own community has also been omitted, not because it is in some way less serious, but because it is largely unreported and unknown.

In the last eight months, An Phoblacht has recorded just over 220 loyalist attacks within 213 days. In other words, on average, there has been a sectarian attack, serious enough to warrant media attention, against the Catholic community in the Six Counties almost every day.

These attacks have included over 75 bombings, mostly pipe bomb attacks. In one of the most serious such attacks, a Catholic foreman working on a building site in the loyalist Moygashel town was seriously injured when the device exploded as he climbed into a digger. In another attack, a Catholic family in Upper Meadow Street in the New Lodge area of North Belfast in February escaped just seconds before their entire home was engulfed in a fireball.

There have been over 20 gun attacks, in which three people have been shot dead. 25-year-old John McCormick was shot dead by the UDA on 23 June, just before he was due to give evidence about a gun attack in which the UDA shot 11-year-old girl Charlene Daly during the loyalist feud last year.

In July, Ciaran Cummings, a 19-year-old Catholic, was shot dead in a drive-by shooting as he waited for a lift to work on a roundabout outside Antrim town. Despite the killing being claimed by the RHD, a cover used by both the LVF and UDA, David Trimble denied the killing was sectarian and claimed it was drugs related. He was later forced to apologise.

Three weeks later, 18-year-old Gavin Brett was shot dead outside a GAA club in North Belfast by loyalist gunmen who thought he was a Catholic. Gavin's Catholic friend Michael Farrell was seriously injured in the attack. The teenagers had been attending a birthday celebration at a local GAA club.

There have been five reported abduction attempts, including two attempts within hours of the Brett killing. There have been over 50 reported attacks by organised loyalist mobs, which has included brutal attacks on individual Catholics as well as incursion often involving hundreds of loyalists into nationalist estates.

In April, Thomas Lowry, 49-year-old electrician from Glengormley, was beaten to death by a loyalist mob in the mistaken belief he was a Catholic. Days later Mary Campbell, a 51-year-old grandmother was beaten and left for dead outside her North Belfast home by a loyalist mob.

Last week, the night before the funeral of Gary Brett, a loyalist mob attempted to abduct the sexton of the Church of Ireland church where the funeral was to take place. The man was beaten and repeatedly stabbed by the gang in the mistaken belief that he was a Catholic.

There have been over 30 petrol-bomb and arson attacks, targeting Catholic homes, schools, churches and businesses. In one of the most serious incidents pensioners living on the edge of Belfast's Short Strand escaped death and serious injury only because vigilant neighbours rescued them. Sixteen pensioner's bungalows were damaged.

Intimidation is far more widespread than ever reported but of over a dozen cases recorded by An Phoblacht, the most serious was in Lisburn. On 10 July, masked loyalists forced their way into the home of Geraldine Ewing and ordered the family out. Geraldine died of heart attack just hours later.

The majority of attacks, almost 50%, have been in Belfast, most of which have been in North Belfast. The nationalist community here has suffered sectarian persecution at a level unprecedented since the early 1970s. Other vulnerable nationalist areas in Larne, Coleraine, Ballymena and Ballynahinch have also been targeted.

As the list shows, Catholics of all ages are vulnerable to sectarian attack, at home, at work and going to and from school, attending chapel or socialising in clubs and pubs, even attending a festival drama. This litany of loyalist violence not only bears testimony to the sectarian nature of the Six-County state but also demonstrates the imperative of the Equality Agenda and the right to live free from sectarian harassment as envisaged by the Good Friday Agreement.

 

 

Loyalist attacks 2001



January

Loyalist gun attack on home of Catholic mother, Helen McCambridge and children aged seven and four in Fanad Walk, Larne, Co Antrim.

Petrol bomb attack on the home of a Catholic man in Glassdrumman Road, Annalong, Co. Down.

Gun and bomb attack on home of a Catholic family in Norwood Court, Coleraine, Co. Derry.

Fire bomb attack on former AOH hall near Toombridge, Co Antrim.

Bomb left on doorstep of Catholic family home, Kylemore Road, Coleraine, Co. Derry.

Bomb attack on the home of a Catholic mother and son, Margaret Shannon and Ryan, in Laharna Drive, Larne Co Antrim.

Bomb attack on the home of a Catholic mother, Sheila McAlary, and her three children in Circular Road, Larne Co Antrim.

Pipe bomb attack on mixed marriage couple's home in Cushendall Road, Ballymena Co Antrim.

Attack on Catholic family's home in Clonavon Road, Ballymena Co Antrim.

Loyalist mob attack on Catholic family's home in Loughside, Ballynahinch, Co. Down.

Loyalist mob attack Catholic teenager, whose face is slashed with an iron bar and another 14 year old Catholic schoolboy badly beaten in Larne Co Antrim.

Pipe bomb attack on Catholic owned Diamond Bar, Ahoghill, Co Antrim.

Pipe bomb attack on the home of Catholic Glendinning family in Larchfield Gardens, Coleraine, Co. Derry.

Pipe bomb attack on the SDLP offices in North Belfast.

Loyalist intimidation drives mixed marriage couple out of a predominantly Protestant area of Newry, Co Down.

Gun jammed in attack on Catholic woman in the Tunnel area of Portadown, Co Armagh.

Bomb attack on the home of a Catholic family in Donnelly Park, Ballymoney, Co Antrim.

Bomb attack on the home of a Catholic family in the Heights area of Derry City.

Gun attack on the home of former POW Martin Óg Meehan in Ardoyne, North Belfast.

Bomb attack on the home of Catholic family in Lothair Avenue, off the Limestone Road, North Belfast.

Pipe bombs thrown at two Catholic homes in Garvagh village, Co. Derry.

Masked loyalists threaten Catholic mother of two in Neilsbrook estate, Randalstown, Co. Antrim.

Attack on Catholic pensioner's home in Linn Road, Craigyhill estate, Larne Co Antrim. Daughter's home also attacked and third house in Lealies Drive, Antiville, Larne.

Pipe bomb attack on Catholic owned Slemish Bar, William Street, Ballymena, Co Antrim.

Mortar bombs found at Beechfield Catholic primary school, Short Strand, East Belfast.

Gun attack on home of Kevin Meehan, son of Martin Meehan in North Belfast.

Bomb planted in car of Catholic woman working at the Wishing Well Women's Centre, Glenbryn. North Belfast.

Pipe bomb attack on the home of Catholic Shauna Gilmour and children Amanda (13) and Mark (8) in Quickthorn Place, Coleraine Co Derry.

Pipe bomb attack on home of Catholic couple and children aged 2 and 4 in Coleraine Co Derry.

Arson attack on St Mary's Catholic Chapel in Bushmills Co Antrim.

Bomb attacks on the two homes of Catholic sisters, Helen Schment and Anne Coyle in Shearwater Way, Derry City.

Loyalist mob attack leaves 13 people injured in Derry City centre.

Bomb discovered at the home of Catholic family, Margaret and Vincent McAdovey and four children in Bawnmore estate, North Belfast.


February

Pipe bomb engulfs home of Joanne McNally and family in Upper Meadow Street, New Lodge area of North Belfast.

Pipe bomb attack on the home of a Catholic family of five in Ardoyne North Belfast. Device discovered in plant pot outside living room window.

Gun attack on the home of a Catholic family in Seacourt estate, Larne Co Antrim.

Pipe bomb attack on the home of a Catholic couple and three children in George Street in the Fountain estate of Derry City.

Gun attack on the home of a Catholic family in Dunluce Road, Bushmills, Co Antrim.

Loaded weapon found outside the home of Martin Meehan linked to previous loyalist attacks on his family in North Belfast.

Pipe bomb attack on a Catholic owned bar, the Whitecliff Inn Whitehead, Co. Antrim.

Pipe bomb attack on the home of Catholic Madine family in Loughside Drive, Ballynahinch Co Down.

UVF pipe bomb factory discovered in a block of flats in Mount Vernon, North Belfast.

Pipe bomb picked up by 4 year old Cliodhna Magee outside her Springfield Road home, West Belfast.

Bomb attack on Catholic foreman working in Moygashel building site, Dungannon, Co. Tyrone.

Attacks on Catholic homes in Eventide Gardens and Edenmore Park in Limavady, Co Derry.

Pipe bomb attack on the home of a Catholic family in Gornasasor, Dungannon, Co. Tyrone.

Pipe bomb attack on the home of Catholic Hugh McInally in Alliance Avenue, North Belfast.

Bomb attack on the home of a Catholic family in the Waterside area of Derry City.

Pipe bomb attack on the home of a Catholic family in Artouges Park, Broughshane, Co. Antrim.

Pipe bomb attack on the home of a Protestant couple from the 26 Counties, mistaken for Catholics, in the Commons area, Broughshane, Co. Antrim.

Bomb attack on the home of a Catholic family in Knockamore estate, Lisburn, Co. Antrim.

Loyalist mob attacks 13-year-old Catholic walking along the Whitewell Road, North Belfast.

Loyalist death list containing names and details of over 500 republicans and nationalists discovered on computer disc in bomb haul in North Belfast.

Petrol bomb attack on the home of a Catholic family in Millfield, Ballymena, Co. Down.


March

Loyalist mob attacks Catholic owned Athletic Bar in Market Square, Ballynahinch Co Down.

Catholic taxi driver attacked in Windmill Street, Ballynahinch Co Down.

Catholic teenager beaten by loyalist mob outside Enterprise Bar, High Street Ballynahinch Co Down.

Catholics in Carryduff receive threatening letters in the Killynure estate, Muskett and Loughmoss areas, Co Down.

Petrol bomb attack on the home of a Catholic family in Kintyre Park in the Ballykeel estate, Ballymena Co Antrim.

Petrol bomb attacks on two Catholic owned businesses in Cloughmills, Co. Antrim.

Grenade type device thrown from the Shankill at a commemoration in Clonard West Belfast.

Loyalist mobs attack Catholic homes in Craigwell Avenue, Portadown Co Armagh.

Gun attack on the home of Catholic Una Reid and children Paula (14) and Gerard (18), Cloughmills, Co. Antrim.


April

Loyalist mob kill 49-year-old Thomas Lowry from Hightown Rise, Glengormley in mistaken belief he's a Catholic. Gang involved in an earlier abduction attempt outside St. Enda's GAA club. North Belfast.

Loyalist mob from Tigers Bay beat with pickaxe handle and leave for dead 51 year old Catholic grandmother Mary Campbell outside her North Belfast home.

Loyalist mob from Tigers Bay beat 14-year-old John Madden in North Belfast.

Loyalist mob attack and leave for dead Catholic teenager Stevie Clarke, who is slashed in the face and kicked unconscious in Belfast.

Gun attack on the home of Catholic families Hayles and Christie in Alliance Avenue, North Belfast.

Loyalist mob attack home of Catholic family in Alliance Avenue, North Belfast.

Pipe bomb attack on the home of mixed marriage couple and their four children in Dunluce Avenue, South Belfast.

Abduction attempt by loyalist gang of 29-year-old Catholic man leaving Regan's pub in Maghera. Co Derry.


May

Attack on the home of SDLP Assembly member Danny O Connor by UDA youth wing Co Antrim.

Catholic home in Ligonel attacked by loyalist mob North Belfast.

Catholic homes in Short Strand, East Belfast attacked by loyalist mob.

Catholic women and children attacked by loyalists throwing flour and eggs at local post office near Short Strand, East Belfast.

Petrol bombs thrown in Workman Avenue, Springfield Road area of West Belfast.

Pipe bomb attack at Catholic primary school in the Springfield Road area of West Belfast.

Petrol bomb attack on the home of Catholic family in Antrim Town Co Antrim.

Loyalist mob attack Catholic-owned pub and injure three people in Woodhouse Street, Portadown Co Armagh.

Catholic homes attacked with bricks and stones in Cupar Way and Bombay Street, West Belfast.

Fire bomb attack on homeless hostel in the Clonard area of West Belfast. Fourteen Catholic families escape blaze.

Catholic man in 30's critically injured by loyalist mob outside Park Hall Inn, in the Steeples estate near Antrim town Co Antrim.

Pipe bomb attack on the home of Catholic Doyle family, in Lothair Avenue, North Belfast.

Petrol bomb attack on Catholic St. Galls primary school, West Belfast.

Arson attack on the car of Catholic family in Loughside Drive, Ballynahinch Co Down.


June

Abduction attempt of West Belfast Catholic walking to work across Millfield, Belfast.

Loyalist mob attacks Sinn Fein election workers in Carryduff Co Down.

Loyalist mob threaten Sinn Fein election workers in Mullaghglass, Co. Antrim.

Arson attack on St Bernard's Catholic chapel in Glengormley, North Belfast.

Gun attack on the homes of two Catholic families in Waterside area of Derry City.

Pipe bomb attack on the home of a Catholic family in Coolessan Walk, Limavady, Co. Derry.

Petrol bomb attack on Catholic owned pub, the Wayside Inn, Cloughmills, Co. Antrim.

Loyalist mob attack 13-year-old Catholic boy in Tullyalley area of Derry City.

Gun attack on the homes of two Catholic families in the Waterside area of Derry City.

Blast bomb attack on the home of Catholic family in Alliance Avenue, North Belfast.

UDA threaten Catholic postmen delivering mail in Seymour Hill, Dunmurry Co Antrim.

Loyalist bandsmen attack Catholic church in Claudy, Co. Derry.

Loyalist mob attacks drive Catholic woman from her Obins Drive home in Portadown Co Armagh.

Loyalist mob armed with iron bar invade Fisherwick estate in Ballymena Co Antrim.

Arson attack on Catholic church in Harryville, Ballymena Co Antrim.

Arson attack on Catholic chapel at Crebilly, Ballymena Co Antrim.

Petrol bomb attack on a Catholic owned pub on the Carnlough Road near Broughshane, Ballymena Co Antrim.

Loyalist mob prevents Catholic school children from attending Holy Cross Primary School on Ardoyne Road, North Belfast.

Catholic man shot by loyalists near Rosapenna Street in the Old Park area of North Belfast.

Arson attack on Catholic chapel, St Mary's on the Hill, North Belfast.

Bomb hoax disrupts Catholic service in Carnmoney cemetery.

Blast and petrol bomb attacks on Catholic homes in Corcrain Road, Portadown Co Armagh.

Catholic man attacked by 2 carloads of loyalists armed with axe and baseball bats in Broadway, West Belfast.

Catholic man and witness to UDA shooting, John McCormick, shot dead by UDA in Ballysally estate, Coleraine, Co. Derry.


July

Catholic teenager, Ciaran Cummings shot dead by loyalist gunmen as he waited for a lift to work in Antrim Town Co Antrim.

Pipe bomb attack of the home of a Catholic family in Alliance Avenue, North Belfast.

Pipe bomb attack on the home of a Catholic woman in Sunnydale Park, Dunmurry, Co Antrim.

Pipe bomb attack on the home of a Catholic family, Kevin Kent and his teenage son Mark and daughter Claire, in Curlew Way on the Clooney estate in Derry's Waterside.

Pipe bomb attack on the home of a Catholic family in Deerpark Avenue, North Belfast.

Catholic woman, Geraldine Ewing, died of heart attack hours after masked loyalists force family to flee their Lisburn home Co Antrim.

Arson attack on St Nicholas Catholic Church, Menorca Place, Carrickfergus Co Antrim.

Petrol bomb attack on Catholic Parochial house in Ballyclare, Co. Antrim.

Catholic families receive bullets through the post in Armagh City.

Pipe bomb attack on Catholic family in Kilrea, Co. Derry.

Pipe bomb attack on GAA club, Armoy, Co. Antrim.

Pipe bomb attack on the home of Catholic family in Roe Mill Road, Limavady, Co. Derry.

Bomb discovered at St Patrick's Community Hall, Desertmartin, Maghera, Co. Derry.

Paint bomb attack on Catholic homes in West Belfast, including the home of SDLP Councillor Margaret Walsh.

Fire bomb attack on two elderly Protestant women, believed to be by the UDA as a precursor to attack on Catholic pensioners, Short Strand, East Belfast.

Catholic pensioners bungalows stoned then three days later fire bombed damaging 16 houses. Elderly residents rescued by neighbours, Short Strand, East Belfast.

Bomb attack on the home of Catholic Harry McClafferty and family, Armoy, Co. Antrim.

Loyalist mob from Tiger's Bay attack Catholic homes in Clanchatten Street off the Limestone Road, North Belfast.

Catholic couple from the Short Strand, attacked with hatchet in Mountpottinger Road, East Belfast.

Petrol bombs thrown in Bombay Street, West Belfast.

Paint bomb attack on Catholic Church in Harryville, Ballymena, Co. Antrim.

Hoax bombs at homes of two Catholic families in Ballynahinch, Co. Down.

Gun attack at Ashton Community Centre, New Lodge Road, North Belfast.

Loyalists attack staff at Royal Victoria Hospital in West Belfast.

Pipe bomb attack on home of Protestant family, mistaken for Catholics, Deerpark area, North Belfast.

Petrol bombs thrown across peaceline at Alliance Avenue, North Belfast.

Arson attack at GAA hall, Attical, near Kilkeel, Co. Down.

Catholic cars vandalised in Poleglass, West Belfast.

Pipe bomb attacks on the home of a Catholic in Westland Gardens, North Belfast.

Petrol bomb attack on Catholic family of six, Cupar Street, West Belfast.

Pipe bomb attack on the home of Catholic pensioner, Coleraine, Co. Derry.

Hoax bomb attack the home of Catholic family living in predominantly Protestant Heights area of Coleraine, Co. Derry.

Pipe bombs thrown at St. Eugene's Catholic Chapel, Newtownstewart, Co. Tyrone.

Hoax bomb attacks in Ballycastle, Co. Antrim.

Bomb attack on the home of Catholic family near Derriaghy outside Lisburn, Co. Antrim.

Mixed marriage couple forced to flee from home in Serpentine Road, Whitewell are of North Belfast.

Pipe bomb attack on the home of Catholic family of four, Eamon and Maura Morrison, in Cloughmills, Co. Antrim.

Catholic woman, Maureen Orderly (60) forced to flee from home in Millfort Avenue, Dunmurry, Co. Antrim.

Catholic man shot in the face with a ricochet bullet after loyalists open fire on residents in Alliance Avenue, North Belfast.

Loyalist mobs attack Catholic homes in Limestone Road and Duncairn Gardens, North Belfast.

Blast bomb attack on the home of a Catholic Mickey Crangle and family in Newington Avenue, North Belfast.

Abduction attempt of a young Catholic man on Crumlin Road, near Twaddle Avenue, North Belfast.

Pipe bomb attack on the home of Catholic family in Alliance Avenue, North Belfast.

Paint bomb attacks on Catholic homes in Crumlin Road, North Belfast.

Petrol bomb attacks on Catholic home in Alliance Avenue, North Belfast.

UDA gang from Tigers Bay attack 14-year-old Catholic boy and 50-year-old woman in Spamount Street, North Belfast.

Paint bomb attack on three Catholic homes in Barrack Street, West Belfast.

Catholic children's street party pelted with stones and bricks in Cupar Street, West Belfast.

Catholic woman walking with her children stoned at Gunnell Hill, Longlands, Whitewell, North Belfast.

Loyalist gang beat Catholic man, attempting to drop a breeze block on his head, Whitewell area of North Belfast.

Loyalist mob attacks Catholic home in Longlands, Whitewell, North Belfast.

Pipe bombs thrown at the homes of Catholic families in Ardoyne and Oldpark area of North Belfast.

Pipe bomb attack during festival drama at Brookfield Mill, Ardoyne, North Belfast.

Catholic teenager shot dead by loyalist gunmen, 18-year-old Gavin Brett outside St Enda's GAA club, Glengormley, North Belfast. Mistaken for a Catholic. Catholic friend, Michael Farrell seriously injured.

Abduction attempt of a 14-year-old Catholic Conor Lynch at Glenwell Road, Glengormley, North Belfast, just hours before Brett killing.

Abduction attempt of 56-year-old Catholic man at the junction of Crumlin Road and Ligoniel Road, North Belfast, just hours after the Brett killing.

Knife attack claimed by RHD on Catholic Church sexton in Carnmoney parish, Newtownabbey, North Belfast.

Loyalist gang attack 19-year-old Catholic, Terrence McIvor in Bryson Street, East Belfast.

Arson attack on Catholic Holy Cross Church and Monastery on Crumlin Road, North Belfast.

Bomb attack on the home of a Catholic family in Rosemount Gardens, Antrim Road area, North Belfast.

Petrol bomb attacks on two Catholic homes in Newtownabbey, Whitewell, North Belfast.

Pipe bombs discovered in Leckagh estate Magherafelt, Co. Derry.

Pipe bombs discovered strapped to trees in Durham and Barrack Street, West Belfast.

Catholic 14-year-old boy beaten and stabbed by loyalist gang in Kilfennan area of Derry City.


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