Politicians condemn Rasharkin terror incidents

In another incident a shotgun cartridge along with a message ‘Get Out Protestant Scum’ were posted through the letterbox of a woman at Belmont Park.

And it has emerged a Protestant woman in Rasharkin was told by police in recent weeks they had receipt of anonymous information that she had ‘48 hours’ to leave the area or be attacked by ‘an unknown Catholic group’. it is understood she has now left the property.

Around 3.45am on Sunday a petrol bomb was thrown at the home of the Catholic family in Wallace Park and police said they are investigating a sectarian motive.

No one was injured but damage was caused to a window. It is understood a member of the public helped extinguish the flames.

On Sunday night a member of the family said she "did not want to comment on it at all", adding "we will just have to get over it".

Sinn Fein MLA Daithi McKay said he believed it was an attack by loyalists on a random Catholic home in the village.

Mr McKay said the petrol bomb attack was attempted murder.

He added: "This was a totally sectarian attack on an Catholic family and is the second time the house has been targeted in recent weeks. People here are shocked and disgusted by this and it is by sheer luck that this petrol bomb didn't set light to the house. We could have been reporting a murder here this morning which indicates how serious an attack this was.

"The only reason that this family has been singled out is because they are Catholic and are an easy target.

"I would urge anyone with information about this attack to bring it forward to the authorities."

North Antrim DUP MP Ian Paisley Jnr said he was "utterly appalled" at the petrol bomb attack, adding "there is no justification for petrol bombing anyone's property as no matter what the motivation it is just wrong".

Mr Paisley said he was "very worried about the increase of attacks in Rasharkin" and called on nationalist leaders "to demonstrate their opposition to these attacks to ensure as much information as possible comes forward from the community to the police".

DUP MLA Mervyn Storey said thankfully no one was injured, "however we could today be dealing with fatalities as there were people in the house".

He said: "This is getting so serious that there are going to have to be talks at a high level. I have already spoken to the First Minister and we are going to see the Chief Constable about sectarian attacks in Rasharkin."

He added: "The sad nightmare of sectarian attacks continue in the village of Rasharkin.

"Whoever was responsible and whatever was their motive it can not be excused or described as anything other than yet another display of sectarian hatred.

"All of this must be brought to an end."

DUP councillor John Finlay has also condemned the attack on the Catholic home in Rasharkin as "both deplorable and unjustified".

"I totally condemn this attack on an innocent family in the early hours of Sunday morning," he said.

SDLP North Antrim MLA Declan O'Loan has condemned a petrol bomb attack on the home of a family in Rasharkin.

He said: "I want to deplore this very serious incident and express my sympathy to the family concerned. A petrol bomb attack on a home in the early hours is a real threat to life.

“There are profound tensions in the village of Rasharkin currently. Parade incidents, repeated attacks on the Orange Hall and a number of graffiti incidents are evidence of this.

“It is vital that any information available is given to the police and that responsible community leaders work to resolve the causes of these tensions."

Traditional Unionist Voice Leader Jim Allister said: "Whether the atrocious hate crime attack on the Baird home in Rasharkin had a sectarian motivation or came from Republicans opposed to the Chris Baird playing for Northern Ireland, it is utterly wrong and demands not only condemnation but an all-out effort to catch the perpetrators. Likewise, with the intimidation of the Protestant family which received a bullet.

"Rasharkin has suffered more than its share of intimidation and attacks. I remain of the view that local knowledge exists as to the litany of attacks and that the conveying of such to the police is the right way forward.

“Too often in the past Sinn Fein, with its control in the village, has not delivered to end the attacks on Protestant culture and property. If on this occasion - which is by no means certain - the perpetrators of the attack on the Baird home are non-Republicans, then let them be given up by anyone who knows of their identity and actions."

North Antrim Alliance Representative Jayne Dunlop has expressed disgust at a petrol bomb attack on a house in Rasharkin at 3.45am on Sunday.

She said: "This was a disgusting attack and I am appalled that this has happened.

“Senseless attacks like this harm the whole community and they create fear. Northern Ireland is moving forward and people want peace, not fear.

"The community will be shocked at this and we need to see those behind this incident brought to justice. Anyone who can help police with their investigation into this should contact them immediately."

On Monday, Cllr John Finlay condemned a threat on the life of a Protestant woman living in Rasharkin.

He said the woman received bullet cases through her letter box along with a note stating: ‘Get out Protestant scum’.

Speaking after visiting the woman, Mr Finlay said: "I totally condemn this threat on the life a Protestant woman.

“She is deeply shocked and feels intimidated after received bullet cases through her door as well as a threatening note.

“This is not the new Northern Ireland we aspire to. We must work to stamp this sort of sectarian and violent behaviour out of Rasharkin. Tensions remain high this morning in the village. I appeal to anyone with information to bring it forward to the PSNI," he said.

And Jayne Dunlop has condemned as sickening an incident in which a bullet was sent to a woman in Rasharkin and a brick was thrown at the house in Belmont Park in the village.

She said: "These are sickening events. People want to live in peace, free from fear or intimidation.

“The fact that so many frightening incidents have taken place in Rasharkin in recent months is deeply troubling. My thoughts are with the woman who was subjected to this.

“Every act of this nature increases tension in the village and this is simply not on. The community are sick of this type of activity and they want to be able to get on with their lives without having to face intimidation.

“I call on anyone with information on this incident to contact police immediately,” she said.