Republican News · Thursday 12 September 2002

UDA bomb attack on councillor

Newtownabbey Labour councillor Mark Langhammer, who was the target of loyalist bombers last week, says he had a lucky escape after a pipe bomb left under his car exploded during the night.

The bomb, left by the South East Antrim UDA, exploded under the vehicle, which was parked outside the Independent Labour Councillor's Shore Road home in the early hours of Wednesday 4 September.

Langhammer, however, didn't realise he had been attacked until breakfast time on Wednesday, when he noticed damage to his car as he was about to take his children to school.

Langhammer is convinced he was targeted by the UDA because of his involvement in efforts to set up an RUC/PSNI clinic in the nearby loyalist Rathcoole estate. "I will continue to work for all my constituents and to stand up for what I believe in and that will not change," he said.

Sinn Féin Newtownabbey councillor Briege Meehan told An Phoblacht that the attack was designed to intimidate the entire community. "The UDA have been very active in this area lately and everyone should be vigilant," said Meehan, who is under a death threat from the UDA.

The UDA in the South East Antrim have been behind five recent killings in the Newtownabbey area in the last two years. These include the killings of Gavin Brett, Daniel McColgan and Gerard Lawlor. The loyalist gang has also been involved in arson attacks against Catholic churches and other property.

Meanwhile, the RUC/PSNI have confirmed that the police clinic in Rathcoole, supported by Langhammer, has been shelved. According to Brendan McGuigan of the RUC\PSNI, it pulled out of the scheme because of intimidation, directed at partners in this venture by loyalists".

Monastery attacked with paint bombs

Holy Cross Monastery in North Belfast was attacked by loyalists who threw paint bombs and stones at the windows of the 100-year-old building on Tuesday night 3 September. The monastery, which backs on to the loyalist Woodvale Road, has been targeted throughout the last 30 years of the conflict. During the summer, loyalists tried to burn the chapel after setting a fire at an outside door at the back of the building.

Woman harassed

Sinn Fein councillor Margaret McClenaghan has hit out at what she says is the "blatant harassment of a North Belfast nationalist" by the RUC\PSNI.

The woman was stopped on Monday night 2 September by members of the RUC/PSNI at a checkpoint and asked to answer a series of questions about herself.

The RUC\PSNI ordered the woman out of her car and the questioning took an extremely personal line. The frightened woman was asked to supply information about whether she had tattoos, scars and about what colour were her eyes and hair.

McClenaghan, who represents Ardoyne, told An Phoblacht that this type of personal questioning was totally uninvited and that the incident had left the woman feeling extremely anxious. "I am calling on the RUC/PSNI to explain their actions and why there was this type of questioning and harassment of a female travelling alone," she said.