Church buildings damaged in attacks

Two church buildings have been damaged in separate overnight attacks.

In the first attack windows were smashed at the home of a Church of Ireland Rector in Glenavy, County Antrim around midnight last night.

A gang of youths throwing stones and other missiles attacked the church rectory and broke the windscreen of a car that was sitting outside.

The Reverend Earl Storey was at home with his wife Pat when the vandals struck.

Elsewhere, a smoke canister was hurled through the window of a Catholic parochial house in Lisburn, County Antrim.

Army technical experts also found a flare canister outside the house on the Rock Road.

SDLP assembly member Patricia Lewsley said both attacks were the work of “mindless thugs”.

“This is a sinister development which must stop. Every person has the right to worship free of fear, and every spiritual leader has the right to lead their congregation free of harassment and violence.

“These thugs have nothing to offer the people of Lagan Valley but sectarianism and hatred.”

Lisburn Sinn Féin councillor Paul Butler condemned those who carried out the attack as “enemies of peace”.

“These attacks must end. I would call upon those with influence within the unionist community to do all in their power to help confine such attacks to the past.”

Meanwhile, in a separate incident a house on Hesketh Road in north Belfast was attacked with a paint bomb. A woman was asleep in the house when two front windows were smashed and at least one paint bomb caused extensive damage to the front living room.

(AMcE)