Irish Republican News · March 10, 2004

DPP member targeted by dissident device

The breakaway `Real IRA' has been blamed for a letter bomb attack on the home of a member of a local policing board in Strabane, County Tyrone.

District Policing Partnership (DPP) chairman Tom McBride was previously targeted by the dissident republican group, as have other members of the DPP.

``I saw wires sticking out so I immediately phoned the PSNI. In hindsight that wasn't very sensible because it turned out to be a live device,'' he said.

``I understand it wasn't a huge device, but certainly big enough to have caused damage like severe burning or the loss of fingers,'' Mr McBride said.

The attack was condemned as ``cowardly and malicious'' by Policing Board vice-chairman Denis Bradley, while SDLP leader Mark Durkan said the lives of Mr McBride's children had been put at risk.

Sinn Féin West Tyrone MP Pat Doherty condemned the attack and called on those responsible to ``disappear''.

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