Man shot as sectarian attacks continue
As An Phoblacht goes to press, sectarian attacks on nationalists and their property are continuing, particularly throughout North Belfast.
In one of the latest attacks, a Catholic man was shot by loyalists near the peaceline at Rosapenna Street in the Oldpark area, while St Mary's On the Hill Catholic Church was attacked by sectarian arsonists on Tuesday morning.
On Wednesday afternoon as we go to print, two security alerts are ongoing, one in Alliance Avenue the scene of two loyalist bomb attacks last week and the other in Killyman near Dungannon in County Tyrone.
In the Oldpark shooting, carried out in the early hours of Wednesday morning 27 June 27, a man was hit in the back by a bullet fired through his kitchen window. According to local sources the gunman climbed up a ladder on the loyalist side of the `peaceline' and opened fire through the kitchen window of the house in Rosapenna Street. It is thought the gun may have jammed, explaining why only one shot was fired. The bullet hit the window frame first before ricocheting and hitting the man on the back.
The couple were attending a birthday party in the house at the time of the attack. Three children, aged seven, ten and 15, were asleep upstairs at the time.
Sinn Féin's Assembly member for North Belfast, Gerry Kelly has accused the UDA of orchestrating violence in the area. ``Last night a ladder was used to scale the `peaceline' and shots were then fired into a Catholic-owned home. It was only through sheer luck that nobody was killed,'' he said. ``I have no doubt that this attack was carried out by the UDA and is part of their on going campaign of intimidation and violence against Catholics in North Belfast and beyond.''
Meanwhile, St Mary's On the Hill Catholic Church was targeted by loyalists in the early hours of Tuesday morning, the second attack on Catholic churches in the Glengormley area in the space of just two weeks. The church was set alight by arsonists but only minor damage was caused to the roof and front porch.
This arson attack came less than 48 hours after loyalists disrupted cemetery Sunday services in nearby Carnmoney graveyard. The loyalists left a hoax bomb in a car which they abandoned at the entrance to the cemetery as the service was taking place.
Also during the service, a mob of youths, some as young as 12, demonstrated with Union Jacks and Ulster flags. According to witnesses, the gang shouted sectarian abuse at those in the cemetery. They were later joined by adult demonstrators.
Loyalists had previously threatened to picket the Cemetery Sunday Mass, with loyalist councillor Tommy Kirkham warning he would take part.
Every year, Cemetery Sunday at Carnmoney attracts nearly 5,000 people to remember their loved ones. Fr Dan Whyte said: ``There is no other reason other than naked sectarianism. Once the sectarian jack is out of the box it is very hard to get it back in and I fear that we will all suffer.
Ballynahinch town centre taken over by loyalists
Tension is rising in the County Down town of Ballynahinch after a group of 50 loyalists painted the town's Main street red, white and blue and erected loyalist flags. Loyalists recently erected a sign at the entrance to the estate saying ``WELCOME TO LOYALIST LANGLEY ROAD''.
This is the latest incident to take place in the town, causing fear among nationalist residents who have been under constant attack by loyalists in the past year.
A dossier listing numerous attacks has been passed to civil servants from the Department of Foreign in Dublin along with a request from local representatives that the Dublin government do something to alleviate the situation.
d Sinn Féin councillor Alex Maskey has hit out those responsible for raising sectarian tensions in South Belfast by erecting UDA flags in mixed areas. Loyalists have specifically targeted the Four Winds area because it is mixed.
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