Republican News · Thursday 9 January 2003

Six-year-old twins escape attack

Two six-year-old twin boys escaped serious injury when a loyalist pipe bomb exploded in their Glenpark Court home off the Oldpark Road in North Belfast in the early hours of Thursday 19 December.

The pipe bomb had been pushed through the letterbox of their home into the hallway, where it exploded, blasting huge chunks out of the walls and destroying the front door.

The Red Hand Defenders, a cover name used by the UDA and LVF, claimed responsibility for the sectarian attack.

Unionist gunmen threaten sisters and children

A Catholic woman, her sister and her children were threatened by armed unionists as they left Avoniel Leisure Centre, off the Albertbridge Road in East Belfast on Thursday night 19 December.

The four-strong gang called the women "Fenian bastards" and told not to come back into the area.

Sinn Féin councillor for the area, Joe O'Donnell, advised people to be vigilant as they travel in and out of loyalist areas.

Primary school targeted

Sinn Féin Ballymoney councillor Philip McGuigan has pointed the finger at unionist councillors after a Catholic primary school in Rasharkin, County Antrim, was evacuated on Thursday 19 December following the discovery of an elaborate hoax left by loyalists.

"I blame unionist politicians for hyping up a so-called bomb hoax at Rasharkin Primary school a few weeks ago that actually turned out to be a tool box stolen from a garden shed and dumped at the school," said McGuigan. "Again we are in a situation where loyalists, reacting to statements made by unionist politicians, are targeting Catholic primary school children."