Catholic couple targeted in UDA attack

Just hours after an official British ‘security’ report deliberately avoided any reference to such attacks, a Catholic couple’s home was wrecked by the north Antrim UDA.

A young couple and their baby narrowly escaped with their lives when the front of their home and car were badly damaged in an arson attack.

‘Taigs Out’ was also sprayed on the wall at their home near Ballycastle, County Antrim. The PSNI said only that the attack was a ‘hate crime’, but refused to identify the organisation involved.

Local councillor Padraig McShane, who knows one of the victims, described the attack as “outrageous”.

“Given the nature of the attack and the extent of the damage around the front door, it is not an understatement to say we could well be looking at attempted murder,” he said.

“The sectarian graffiti on the home informs us of an abhorrent level of hate in this latest attack.”

The report on paramilitary activity issued by MI5 and the PSNI accused loyalist groups of a range of criminal behaviour and “paramilitary assaults”, but ignored their continuing sectarian violence.

Mr McShane, who has been targeted in an arson attack by the same UDA gang, is himself set to sue his own local authority after his effigy was burned on a bonfire on council property.

A stuffed effigy of the independent councillor with a crosshair painted on the head was displayed prominently at the front of the construction.

Last week the council admitted the bonfire, in Bushmills, County Antrim, was placed on the boundary of land owned by it, and had been facilitated by it.

Mr McShane declined to comment but said that he was “deeply shocked by the whole affair”.

Urgent Appeal