Irish Republican News · June 10, 2005

Sinn Féin members targeted

Nationalists in Coleraine have been struck by a series of orchestrated petrol bomb attacks. Some of those targeted in the County Derry town were in their sixties.

In an apparently related development, a document purporting to list the names of Sinn Féin members was being circulated in the town.

The list had also been posted at night on the front of a grocery shop.

The PSNI said there was a link between the names on the list and the attacks.

Sinn Féin Coleraine councillor Billy Leonard said he was appalled by the petrol bombings.

“Theses are outrageous attacks. There is a clear attempt to try and target and intimidate nationalists in Coleraine because of the surge in nationalist confidence and support for Sinn Féin.

“Unionist political and community leaders have a responsibility to challenge the attitudes within their community that try and make attacks such as these on nationalists in any way acceptable because they are not. Everyone has a right to live free from sectarian intimidation and harassment. Unionist politicians must by lead by example.

“Unionists who demonise nationalists contribute to the climate in which unionist paramilitaries target nationalists and republicans. This is unacceptable.”

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