10 May 2001 Edition

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80 nationalists on hit list

Details of a hit list containing the details of up to 80 nationalists only became known after a loyalist appeared in a Belfast court last weekend.

Sinn Féin assembly member for mid-Ulster, Francie Molloy, is angry that the RUC are refusing to divulge any information on the list to those targeted other than to say their details are in loyalist hands.

The nationalists on the list, which was on a computer disc, are mostly from South Derry and East Tyrone. At least one Sinn Féin councillor is named.

``Even when a number of solicitors contacted the RUC they refused to give out any information,'' said Molloy. ``Indeed, their attitude has already prompted a number of official complaints to the ombudsman.''


Larne SDLP rep attacked


SDLP Assembly member for Larne, Danny O'Connor, has blamed the UDA for an attack on his home on Monday 7 May. O'Connor said that the UDA youth wing, the Ulster Young Militants (UYM), were responsible for the attack in which bricks and stones were hurled at the home he shares with his parents.

Although none of the missiles caused any damage to the windows in the house, which are bulletproof, the window of a car belonging to O'Connor's disabled father was smashed.

In recent weeks, the UYM has been accused of being behind sectarian attacks throughout the North, including the killing of Trevor Lowry in Glengormley near Belfast. The attack on the O'Connor home is the latest in an ongoing loyalist campaign against Catholics in the East Antrim town.

Sinn Féin's Jeanette Graffin has called on Catholics in Larne ``not to be silenced by loyalists whose only intention is to intimidate Catholics and try to make non-citizens of them''.


Sustained attacks on Ligoniel


Tension in the isolated nationalist community of Ligoniel is rising after a series of loyalist attacks during the last ten days. Five cars have been stoned and the home of an elderly woman was also attacked.

Speaking to An Phoblacht, Sinn Féin representative Eoin O'Broin said that loyalist gangs were waiting on cars coming down from Ligoniel and pelting them with bricks and stones. ``In the case of the elderly woman,'' said O'Broin, ``loyalists came into the area and broke a number of windows in her home. As the woman suffers with Alzheimer's disease, this attack was particularly horrendous''.

O'Broin called on nationalists in the area to be careful.


Alert over attempted kidnap


A County Derry man is warning people in the Maghera area to be on their guard after loyalists tried to abduct him last weekend.

The 29-year-old, who didn't want to be identified, says that he was able to fight off his attackers due to his size and build. The man is over 6 feet and plays football.

The man says he left Regan's pub in Maghera at around 1.30am on Sunday 29 April, when two men followed him into a cul de sac near Hall Street. One of the attackers grabbed him by the arm, trying to get him in an arm lock and pull him towards their car. One of the assailants called him a ``Fenian bastard'' during the struggle. The man managed to break free and ran off towards home.

Sinn Féin assembly member John Kelly warned nationalists to be vigilant and reminded people that 23-year-old Fergal McCusker was taken away and shot by loyalists in similar circumstances in January 1998. ``Fortunately, this man had just a few beers during the evening. Had he not had his wits about him he might now be dead,'' said Kelly.


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