11 September 1997 Edition

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Sectarian campaign in Ballymena

by Michael McCracken

Loyalist petrol bomb attacks on two Catholic families in Ballykeel estate, Ballymena on Tuesday 9 September were just the latest attempts to cleanse Ballymena of Catholics.

The attacks came in the early hours of Tuesday morning, on a middle-aged family, and a young couple with children. The livingrooms of both houses were gutted, and the residents were fortunate to have detected the fires so early.

Sinn Féin Northern Chairperson Gerry O hEara called on the Ballymena MP Ian Paisley to urge Ballymena loyalists to stop their campaign of sectarian attacks on Catholics in his constituency. ``It is unfortunate that the area's MP has once again remained conspicuously quiet about these sectarian murder bids on his Catholic constituents.''

The targeting of isolated Catholic families in north and east Antrim, and Ballymena in particular, has resulted in many being intimidated into leaving their homes, so that the staunchly loyalist Ballykeel estate has few or no Catholic families left. It has emerged that one family targeted on Tuesday have decided to leave their home on the estate after having lived there for 34 years. These attacks have come just a week after the Harryville loyalist mob announced their intention to resume their picket of Harryville masses.

 

Larne attacks continue



A CATHOLIC FAMILY OF FOUR had a lucky escape last Wednesday 3 September when two petrol bombs thrown at their Larne home by Loyalists failed to explode.

The attack is the latest in a series of attacks on Catholics living in the loyalist town and came only days after a double attack on the homes of a Catholic man and his girlfriend which was reported in last week's An Phoblacht.

According to the man targeted last week Catholics in Larne are under constant threat from mostly UVF gangs who are strong in the town, ``the RUC have no interest in tackling these gangs. In fact they ignore their activities'', he said.


An Phoblacht
44 Parnell Sq.
Dublin 1
Ireland