Republican News · Thursday 31 January 2002

Widespread loyalist attacks

While people's minds were focused on the loyalist violence directed at the Short Strand in East Belfast over the past week, loyalists in other parts of the North were equally active. Attacks in other parts of Belfast and throughout the North went almost unreported.

Catholic churches and schools were at the top of the list of buildings targeted by the sectarian gangs.

On Tuesday 11 June, loyalists attacked a Catholic school in South Belfast. A classroom at the Holy Rosary school in Sunnyside Street off the Upper Ormeau Road area was burned. Loyalists hurled a petrol bomb into the classroom, setting it alight. The room suffered severe smoke damage, while another four classrooms had windows smashed. A hammer and several petrol bombs were recovered at the scene.

On Saturday 8 June, damage was caused to an art room, dining room and corridor at Our Lady and Saint Patrick's College in Gilnahirk when inflammable liquid was poured into the school.

On Sunday night 9 June, two Catholic students were beaten unconscious and hospitalised after they were set upon by a loyalist gang on the Ormeau Road at its junction with the loyalist Donegall Pass. In the aftermath of this attack, loyalists went on a rampage of rioting against the RUC/PSNI.

Then in the early hours of Monday 10 June, a fire was set at St Columbanus's High School in Bangor by loyalists, forcing it to close for the day. Within minutes of this attack, Saint Congall's Catholic church, also in Bangor, was attacked with buckets of paint thrown over the outside of the building.

Later on Monday 10 June, there was a petrol bomb attack on St Anthony's Church in Willowfield Drive in East Belfast, and on Tuesday the church was attacked again, along with St Columcille's Church in Ballyhackamore.

Sinn Féin's Alex Maskey called for loyalists to step back and end these attacks. He said: "Loyalists are intent on spreading their campaign of hate throughout Belfast. These attacks must end. I would put particular emphasis on those within political unionism who have through rash and unfounded statements, provided political cover and justification for those loyalists carrying out attacks such as these."

Kids escape UDA gun attack

Several shots were fired at a group of young Catholics as they played football in the Yorkgate Complex at North Queen Street in North Belfast on Tuesday night 11 June at about 11pm.

The youths were in the car park playing football when a loyalist gunman fired at them from the direction of Tiger's Bay.

"The teenagers ducked for cover as the shots were fired through the railings at the shopping centre," said a resident. "The RUC/PSNI have tried to say that they were not live rounds but there are strike marks on the railings".

Sinn Féin councillor Gerard Brophy said the UDA was behind the shooting.

"This was clearly attempted murder on children," he said. "I would urge everyone to be extremely vigilant as the UDA are intent on targeting anyone, regardless of age".

There have been loyalist attacks upon nationalist children at the Yorkgate Complex before. In March, 19-year-old Anthony Reid was stabbed in the chest and one week later a 14-year-old boy was kicked and punched by four loyalists.

Bomb attack in New Lodge

Only 30 hours earlier, a Catholic family escaped serious injury when the UDA threw a pipe bomb at their home.

The attack happened at 1.50am on Monday 10 June at Hillman Street. The bomb blew a large hole in the downstairs toilet. This was followed by a volley of shots directed at the house.

Mary Rafferty, who lives in the house with her son, said that earlier the family had held a First Communion party in the house and they were thankful that the attack wasn't carried out then.

The bomb destroyed a downstairs toilet, which is beside a playroom that Mary's niece Jade uses when she stays.

The loyalists launched their attack from Tiger's Bay, indeed from the same junction where a gunman had fired at youths on Tuesday night.

There have been over 400 sectarian bomb and gun attacks by loyalists on the nationalist community.