1 May 1997 Edition
Irvine's family attacked
Irish Formula One racing ace, Eddie Irvine was celebrating again on the winners podium on Sunday 27 April after coming third in the Italian Grand Prix, but Irvine's celebrations were shadowed by a fluttering union jack and the fact that his family had been attacked by loyalists at their home in Conlig, County Down.
Loyalists were outraged after the world racing body FISA flew the Tricolour on the winners' podium after Irvine, who is a Protestant, came second in the Argentinian Grand Prix two weeks ago.
Irvine's parents home and people who work for him were bombarded with sectarian phone calls. Irvine, who is now based in Dublin, pleaded with loyalists to stop the attacks and was forced to back down on the flag issue and fly the union jack after his latest success.
Irvine, who has always said he is an Irishman and in no way political added, ``the issue doesn't cause me any problems, but it caused my parents problems and people who work for me. People just read into it what they wanted and gave them hassle''.
Loyalists were outraged after the world racing body FISA flew the Tricolour on the winners' podium after Irvine, who is a Protestant, came second in the Argentinian Grand Prix two weeks ago.
Irvine's parents home and people who work for him were bombarded with sectarian phone calls. Irvine, who is now based in Dublin, pleaded with loyalists to stop the attacks and was forced to back down on the flag issue and fly the union jack after his latest success.
Irvine, who has always said he is an Irishman and in no way political added, ``the issue doesn't cause me any problems, but it caused my parents problems and people who work for me. People just read into it what they wanted and gave them hassle''.