Wednesday, July 15, 2009

12th July attacks on Catholic churches condemned

Police in Northern Ireland are investigating a series of incidents in which Catholic churches have been damaged in sectarian attacks.

The incidents, coinciding with the lead-up to the annual 12th of July weekend, occurred at five churches and a GAA club, all in the Ballymena area of north Antrim.

Paint was thrown at St Patrick's Church in Ballymena, the Church of Our Lady in Harryville, the Immaculate Conception Church in Cullybackey and the Church of the Blessed Virgin in Portglenone.

Harryville church has been arsoned in 2000 and attacked with paint bombs in 2006.

Meanwhile St Mary's Church and headstones in Ahoghill were damaged and a car was driven into the grounds of the village's GAA club and set alight.

Ulster Unionist mayor of Ballymena, Mr James Currie, said the incidents were not a true reflection of life in the area.

"It does nothing to attract business, to attract tourists and I condemn it on all sides," the mayor declared.

"I condemn the people who damage Orange halls, I condemn the people who damage Roman Catholic churches, he added.

"They are not helping this country or any citizen of it one iota."

Local SDLP MLA Declan O'Loan described the incidents as a disgraceful episode for the Ballymena area.

He said that, in general, Ballymena had been much more settled recently but added that there was now a state of nervousness and tension in the area.

"It's reminiscent of the type of thing that happened not too many years ago when we used to hear of attacks happening through the night all too often, but we've had nothing like that for a good period of time so it's certainly very worrying and very distressing," Mr O'Loan remarked

Local Presbyterian minister Rev John Finlay added his voice to the criticism of the attacks.

"I am so sorry that it has happened, we have very good relationships with our Roman Catholic neighbours and we would express our solidarity with them," he said.

"We thought these sort of things things were consigned to the past."

PSNI Chief inspector Ryan Henderson condemned the attacks and appealed to the public for help.

This type of crime is totally unacceptable and quite often results in further attacks which affect everyone, he said.

Pledging that the police will do all they can to bring those responsible before the courts and stop further damage, he said: "I would appeal to those out there who do have information, to bring it to us and help stop these incidents.
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