A Catholic priest has said he is frustrated that his
church in Newtownabbey has been targeted by vandals again after a spate
of attacks this year. Paint was thrown at St Mary's Star of the Sea on the Shore Road sometime between 7pm on Saturday and 8.30am on Sunday.
It has been targeted in numerous previous attacks - last month a petrol bomb was thrown at the building.
Parish priest Fr Anthony Alexander described the latest attack as "senseless" and a "pointless exercise".
"My reaction immediately would be a sort of frustration. We've just got the last (attack) cleaned up, it took quite a while and to have another attack leaves you speechless in many ways," he said.
"It's only paint but it annoys the parishioners, it annoys the locals. Most people don't want this to happen anywhere.
"I grew up, not to vandalise, not to destroy people's property and I can't understand any building being targeted, whether it's a Catholic Church, a Presbyterian Church or an Orange Lodge."
North Belfast DUP MP Nigel Dodds condemned the overnight vandalism and appealed for an end to the attacks.
"These attacks are the actions of mindless thugs and they will be condemned by all right-thinking people," he said.
"It is depressing that there have been a series of attacks against this church this year."
"I say again, as I have said before, that there can be no justification whatsoever for any attacks against any place of worship or any place of religious or cultural identity, whether that be a church, an Orange hall or any centre of cultural identity.
"As a society we must stand firmly for religious and civic liberty and tolerance," he concluded.
Alliance Councillor Billy Webb said he is saddened that the Catholic Church has been targeted again.
"This type of behaviour must not be allowed to continue and I would urge anyone with information on those behind these attacks to come forward and contact the PSNI as soon as possible," he said.
"Those responsible are not acting on behalf of the local community and must be taken off the streets and punished before the courts."
The SDLP and the UUP have also condemned the incident.
Police officers are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to get in touch.