17/11/2004

Man released on bail following councillor attack

A man has been released on police bail pending forensic reports after being questioned about an attack at a nationalist councillor's home in Co Antrim on Monday.

The 20-year-old man had been questioned about criminal damage at the home of SDLP councillor Danny O'Connor's on Churchill Road, Larne in the early hours of Monday morning.

During the incident Mr O`Connor fired four shots into the air from a legally held weapon when the men turned to confront him after damaging his mother’s car.

Mr O'Connor's mother blamed the UDA for the attack but Secretary of State Paul Murphy refuted this during a debate on the paramilitary group in the House of Commons on Monday.

A statement from police in Larne have confirmed that they are investigating a "sectarian motive" for the attack.

(MB/SP)

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