Republican News · Thursday 1 November 2001

RUC lied over pipe bomb

Sinn Féin councillor Eoin Ó Broin has accused the RUC of releasing false information to the media after a loyalist pipe bomb attack in Newington, North Belfast.

In the attack on Wednesday night, 24 October, a pipe bomb was lobbed into a house on Newington Avenue where it exploded. However, the RUC issued information to the media saying the explosion was caused by a firework.

Displaying pieces of shrapnel that local people found in the back yard of the house, ó Broin challenged the RUC to come clean.

Among the pieces of metal that O'Broin displayed was a heavy, machined nut, similar to those attached to other loyalist bombs.

"The attack on this house was the fourth in the last two weeks," said Ó Broin. "Breige Burns, who lived there, has had to move out because of the continuing attacks. It is my view that the RUC deliberately tried to play down this attack thinking they would get away with it because the house is unoccupied at the minute."