Bid to burn out Rasharkin protestant

[Wasp]

Bid to burn out Rasharkin protestant

A PROTESTANT man whose car was torched in a sectarian attack in Rasharkin has said his attackers will not stop until he leaves his home.

The victim, who does not wish to be named, was alerted by his dog’s barking to the danger posed by the burning vehicle in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

“The car was parked up close to the back door – if the car had exploded then the house would have went up in flames,” he said.

The troubled north Antrim village, which has been plagued by a catalogue of sectarian attacks in recent years, is being terrorised by dissident republican elements, according to the victim.

“I have been attacked before, along with my brother, by this same gang.

“Protestant families have had to leave the village over the last few years, and they won’t stop until I have to leave.”

Ballymoney mayor, John Finlay, described it as “a blatant sectarian attack to drive a Protestant resident out of Rasharkin”.

“Over the last number of years the Protestant community in Rasharkin has been dwindling as a result of this republican intimidation. This kind of intimidation needs to stop immediately,” the DUP representative said.

A police spokesman said a sectarian motive was one line of inquiry which they were pursuing in their investigation.

Meanwhile, TUV leader Jim Allister has voiced his condemnation of republican graffiti sprayed on a recently-renovated Orange Hall in nearby Dunloy.

“It’s still the same intolerant belligerence which shapes the republican mind,” the North Antrim MLA said.

www.newsletter.co.uk

[leeside]

Northern Ireland violence drives out immigrant families.

Terrified families from East Timor flee as loyalists attack nationalist homes in Portadown in marching season clashes.

Immigrant families from East Timor fled a Catholic area of Northern Ireland on Friday night when loyalist rioters tried to attack nationalist homes, a Sinn Fein councillor said today.

"Around 100 loyalists attacked police who prevented them attacking nationalist homes," said John O'Dowd, who is a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

The families from East Timor packed their bags and ran from their homes in Portadown, Co Armagh on Friday night, when the area was engulfed in violence, he said.

"They packed their bags, so distressed were they at the violence. Their neighbours tried to reassure them that they would be safe in their homes but they left," he told Reuters.

A significant number of families from East Timor have settled in the Northern Irish town, where they work in the food packing industry alongside many Poles and Portuguese.

For several hours, police were attacked by people armed with petrol bombs, bricks, bottles, fireworks and other missiles in the latest violence surrounding the high point of the loyalist marching season.

The police fired around 20 plastic bullets and arrested three people. They confirmed that loyalists provoked the violence when a planned peaceful protest was hijacked by a violent minority.

The Mayor of the local Craigavon council, Democratic Unionist Alan Carson, condemned the violence.

"This does not do anyone any good. People have a right to live peacefully and feel safe in their own homes. The violence we saw last night is something we assigned to the history books," he said.

In recent days, nearly 50 police have been wounded and dozens have been arrested during violence in both loyalist and republican areas surrounding the annual 12 July parades.

More than 500 parades were held on Tuesday across Northern Ireland, the high point of the Orange Order marching season celebrating the victory of Protestant King William of Orange over Catholic King James at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. The majority passed off peacefully but they sparked outbreaks of street violence.


www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/jul/16/east-timor-immigrants-fled-northern-ireland-violence

[leeside]

Loyalists target foreign nationals' homes in Portadown


The homes of three foreign nationals have been attacked by masked men in Portadown.

A group of loyalists entered Craigwell Avenue around 0200 BST on Tuesday. They threw stones and other missiles and caused damage to a number of windows.

Sinn Fein said the police should have maintained a presence in the street which has been a flashpoint in the past.

Two police officers were injured in rioting in nearby Obin Street.

Many of the residents who live on the street work in the local food processing industry.

Sinn Fein's John O'Dowd said they made a "valuable contribution" to the local economy.

"They're obviously shocked and traumatised that these attacks have taken place," he said.

"Whether it was racist or sectarian, it is wrong."

Joao Costa's home was one of those targeted.

He is from Portugal and has lived there for two years.

"They threw stones at my house and then they just broke the windows," he said.
'Afraid'

"I think it was pieces of concrete. I want to stay because I like this place.

"I know everybody around and I want to stay, but it is very difficult for me. I'm afraid. I don't know what they might try again."

Craigwell Avenue is near the site of a loyalist bonfire.

"Twelve masked men don't suddenly just turn up in an area," said Mr O'Dowd.

"There was certainly an amount of planning went on involving this attack.

"They came into the area to cause damage and hurt and pain to the local community and they were successful in doing that."

Mr O'Dowd criticised the police for leaving the area a short time before the attack.

"It has been attacked on several occasions in the past," he said.

"What usually would happen is the police would remain present in this area throughout the night.

"For whatever reason the police left the area in the early hours and loyalists entered the area and the trouble started from that.

"So the police have to answer why did they leave?"

[Wasp]

Again you have answered tit for tat instead of addressing the post I made then adding whatever points you want to make. I am sure O'Dowd gave a frank and accurate assesment of the situation.

That said people being put out of their homes is nothing short of disgusting.

[leeside]

Im sorry wasp but you only seem to present issues that effect protestants, loyalists and unionists as though its only they that suffer sectarianism, violence and intimidation. I see your point about my tit for tat response but im just balancing the argument by presenting evidence that shows the PUL are guilty of the exact same thing.

[Wasp]

Jul 17, 2011 21:47:29 GMT leeside said:

Im sorry wasp but you only seem to present issues that effect protestants, loyalists and unionists as though its only they that suffer sectarianism, violence and intimidation. I see your point about my tit for tat response but im just balancing the argument by presenting evidence that shows the PUL are guilty of the exact same thing.

I am a loyalist and you have told me you are genuinely interested on things such as PUL feelings, whether you believe me or not I am quite middle of the road and the sheer frustration felt by many is one of the reasons I post our concerns. All to often the media seems to present a very onesided case and I challenge that. I think each and every post you have made I have addressed it first without going down the whataboutery which stands in the way of understanding and listening to others.

I deal with this every week and I have a large number of letters of proof verifying the good work I do involving all sides and when I get one person to realize there hatred and bitterness is wrong then all the work I put into it is very very rewarding. I am still a loyalist and always will be but that doesnt make me a liar, vermin or anyother name under the sun. Concerning my posts concerning the psni view on loyalist rioting look at what I said, I didnt try and blame everyone else, I accepted it but only seek to achieve an equal balance.