Woman (70) feared sectarian mob would kill her
A pensioner today told how a gang of youths went on the rampage in north Belfast attacking homes with bricks and bottles.
As sectarian tensions in the area continue to boil, Mary Hanna, who lives with and cares for her 80-year-old brother George, said she was left terrified after her home was targeted by youths dressed in Celtic shirts.
Ms Hanna is a Catholic living in the predominantly Protestant Workman Avenue, an interface area just off the Shankill Road, where a number of homes came under attack last night.
Tensions in north Belfast have remained high following several days of street violence.
“We were out the back looking at jobs that had to be done when the next thing a shower of stones bounced off the roof and I heard glass break,” Ms Hanna said
“I didn’t know which window it was until I went in and saw all the glass.
“If we had still been outside we would both have been killed. I’m not exaggerating.
“I was very frightened because I didn’t know what else was coming. We could have been killed out there.”
The pensioner said she has lived in north Belfast for 40 years, during some of the worst of the Troubles.
Last night’s attack on her home is the third time it has been targeted in eight days.
“We have been here for such a long time,” Ms Hanna said.
“We lived right on the front of the road until 1968 then came over here. Our neighbours are excellent.
“It is these hoodlums who come in from the back.
“We got another window smashed on July 12 and the car has been damaged.
“It is ridiculous that you cannot live in peace in your own home. If one of the stones had hit me on the head I wouldn’t have walked again. I am so angry that they can’t get it into their heads that it is wrong. It is so wrong and the parents must know what they are at,” she added.
SDLP Assemblyman Alban Maginness said it was concerning that there does not appear to be an end to trouble in the area.
“It is getting very bad indeed. When will it all end? I totally condemn what happened,” he said.
“We need to resolve all of our problems through peaceful means and what is happening adds nothing to the resolution of problems.”
DUP MLA Nelson McCausland said: “Such attacks are deeply upsetting for anyone but especially for senior citizens and I am glad that community workers have called with the pensioner to provide some support and reassurance.
“Everyone should be able to live in their homes without the threat of sectarian attack. Such incidents are totally unacceptable and I will be speaking to the PSNI about this.”
The PSNI said officers were called following two reports of youths throwing stones at houses. When they arrived at the scene they had already fled. Police remained in the area for some time.
The attacks come just days after trouble broke out in north Belfast, injuring several police officers, in some of the worst violence the area has seen in a number of years.
For three nights last week police came under attack during sustained rioting. Dissident republicans have been accused of organising street disorder in a bid to murder police officers.
