Bombs cost city millions

Foyle MP Mark Durkan, who recently met local traders to discuss their concerns, said: “So-called dissident attacks in Derry are not threatening some distant system, disturbing the establishment or challenging the state.

“Instead, they are doing real damage to a city centre that needs every trading hour it can get.

“It is local people who own, run or work in businesses who lose trade, product and wages as a result of such attacks and threats.”

The Londonderry MP said the current economic climate was challenging enough for businesses everywhere without shops and outlets here being harassed and handicapped by the commercial vandalism of the dissidents.

“These attacks are victimising legitimate local businesses, threatening jobs, costing wages and doing Derry down.”