Violence increases in north Belfast

Wednesday August 07, 2002 23:08

by McMean

Loyalist fired shots in north Belfast as orchestrated attacks were mounted on nationalist homes in the area overnight.

Catholic homes were hit by paint bombs and windows were smashed
as loyalists mounted attacks in Ardoyne. Two pipe bombs
discovered in the area were defused.

A number of shots were fired from the loyalist Glenbryn estate,
which backs directly on to Catholic lower Ardoyne, near the site
of the blockade of Holy Cross girls' school last year.

Houses on Alliance Avenue, which splits the two communities and
in the Cliftondene and Old Park areas, were also attacked.

One Catholic resident from Cliftondene Park whose home was hit
with paint said it was the eighth attack on her home within 12
months.

"We are just bearing up as best we can. This is our home, it has
been our home for 27 years and I find it absolutely disgusting
that somebody can just come along and do this," she said.

There were also concerns about the hijacking at gunpoint of a car
on the Old Cavehill Road in north Belfast. Sectarian
hit-and-run attacks have been a feature of recent trouble in the
area.

CHECKPOINT BRICK ATTACK

Last night, a 17-year-old Catholic girl travelling in a taxi was
targeted.

Two loyalists attempted to throw a brick at the taxi as it drove
up the Crumlin Road onto the Oldpark Road at around 6pm.

Realising he was going to be attacked, the driver quickly swerved
and drove to safety.

Recalling her ordeal, the teenager said the loyalists were
waiting at the flashpoint - the scene of a recent spate of
sectarian attacks - in a bid to identify Catholics travelling
into the Ardoyne and Oldpark area.

"They (loyalists) were looking into the car to see who it was and
knew I was Catholic," she said.

"As one of them went to throw a brick, the taxi man swerved and
sped up the road. I was very frightened.

"Thankfully, we got away. If it wasn't for the taxi man swerving,
the brick could have hit the car and God only knows what could
have happened.

"The next time I will definitely take the scenic route, but it is
terrible you can't even drive into your own area without being
watched and attacked by loyalists."

GIRLS FLEE MOB

Earlier, two 12-year-old girls playing with balloons had to "run
for their lives" to escape loyalist rioters.

The incident in the Ardoyne area has caused the girls, both on
medication and counselling following last year's protests at Holy
Cross primary school, further trauma.

Caitlin and her neighbour, Laura, had been enjoying the Sunday
afternoon sunshine and playing outside their homes, but had to
run for their lives when the loyalists suddenly appeared.

"Sunday was one of the first times I've let her out to play in
front of the house since the doctors put her on medication after
Holy Cross," said Caitlin's mother.

"My wee girl is still having trauma counselling and what happened
yesterday has made her worse. She receives home tutoring because
she is too afraid to go to school. Sunday was the first time I'd
seen her playing properly for months - and then this happens."

"It was such a nice day and the street was full of children
playing and families enjoying the sun but everyone had to run for
their lives to get inside when the gang appeared. It had been so
quiet until then," said Laura's mother.

The houses were attacked three times in a series of orchestrated
attacks, said Caitlain's mother. "There were about 50 of them and
they were throwing stones, bottles, fireworks and shouting at
us."