UVF racists force Portuguese to pay protection

Sinn Féin Upper Bann Assembly member John O'Dowd has disclosed that unionist paramilitaries in Portadown are forcing members of the Portuguese community to pay protection money "if they don't live in the right landlord's house".

O'Dowd was speaking after a racially-motivated attack on the home of a Portuguese family on the Armagh Road in Portadown at around 10.20pm on Saturday night 6 November.

A mother and her eight-month-old daughter escaped serious injury when a petrol bomb was thrown at the house. The front window and wall of the house suffered scorch damage.

O'Dowd said the racist attack was the third in a week in Portadown. "These racist attacks are part of a UVF campaign of intimidation to try and force members of ethnic minorities to pay protection money to be allowed to live and work in the area," he said.

"Some of those providing employment to the Portuguese in Portadown have been forced to hand over thousands of pounds to known UVF members."

Members of the Vietnamese and Filipino communities have also been targeted in the County Armagh town.