Six windows broken at Councillor's home

Six windows, including two patio doors, were shattered and both Councillor McConaghy and his wife, Beth, missed, by a whisker, being struck by large stones.

Cllr. McConaghy had just returned from a meeting of Moyle District council around 10.30 p.m. last Monday night and was preparing to watch television programmes his wife had pre-recorded for him earlier in the evening.

"Beth made me a cup of tea and I was sitting behind one of the patio doors when the glass came in around me. A large stone whizzed past my head and almost hit Beth on the leg.

"We heard glass being broken in other windows at the front of the house just at the same time. Naturally, we were greatly shocked by it all but managed to telephone the police quickly.

"Within 20 minutes they were on the scene but by this time those responsible had fled," Cllr. McConaghy told the Times.

Cllr. McConaghy believes that more than one person was involved since the windows were broken simultaneously. Police took away a number of rocks for forensic examination and are appealing for information from the public who might have been in the vicinity of the attack at the time.

Cllr. McConaghy has served the Causeway area for more than half a century (he is in his 53rd year as a public representative) and this is the first time his home has been attacked.

He is well-known for his principled stands on many issues, some of which have not gone down too well such as the time he took issue with the flying of paramilitary flags in Bushmills which led to him receiving more than 30 threats against his person.

The 81-year-old says the incident will not deflect him from carrying out his public duties and pledged to stand his ground.

"I will continue with my public duties although, to be honest, I have lost a great deal of interest in the council. I'm just putting in my bit of time until reorganisation. I can honestly say that I have done more for the Causeway area than any other councillor and I will continue to do as much as I can," he said.

Cllr. McConaghy is a former chairman of Moyle District Policing Partnership until he resigned his position on the body.

And he had nothing but praise for the PSNI.

"The response time of the police was just 20 minutes until they were at my door. Police are frequently getting criticism but I couldn't say a bad word about them. They were extremely good," he added.

Anyone who can assist police with their enquiries should contact 0845 600 8000 or Crimestoppers on freephone 0800 555 111.