Paint attack blamed on loyalist feud
By Allison Morris
Irish News
**Via Newshound
08/05/08
The chairwoman of a District Policing Partnership has called for mediation between rival loyalist factions to prevent further violence in a Co Antrim town before a “serious tragedy” takes place.
DUP councillor May Beattie said women and children are being caught up in the violence which has blighted Carrickfergus since a stand-off between warring UDA factions last July resulted in a police officer being shot in the back.
Over the last week property and cars have been attacked in the Sunnylands estate.
Car windows were smashed and paint thrown at a house in the Sunningdale area on Monday. Four young children aged between 10 and two were at home at the time.
The Irish News revealed last week that charges have been dropped against all of those arrested in connection with the UDA-linked violence.
The Public Prosecution Service said the reason for not proceeding with cases was “evidential”.
A number of the men who were facing charges had been bailed to addresses outside the Co Antrim town since October last year.
Following the decisions not to prosecute they have all returned home, triggering further tensions in the area.
Two weeks ago a shotgun was fired at the front door of a home in the Castlemara estate.
In one particular incident a headless cat was also left on the doorstep of a house in the loyalist estate.
Ms Beattie said she was deeply concerned by the ongoing violence.
“I have been in regular contact with police and as the chair of the local district policing partnership will continue to raise my concerns at a senior level,” she said.
“As far as I’m concerned these people are all residents of my
borough and deserve to be treated with the same respect as anyone else.
“There are mothers, grandmothers and small children all caught up in this.
“Every effort must be taken to bring it to an end. I’m no mediator, but that is what is needed at this time.
“My real concern would be if things continue as they have been, sooner or later we are going to have a real tragedy on our hands.”
Tensions have been high in the coastal town since a stand-off between members of the mainstream UDA and the breakaway south-east Antrim ‘brigade’ last July.
Previous attempts at mediation have broken down.
“Police in Carrickfergus are investigating an incident at Sunningdale Crescent on Monday May 5,” a police spokesman said.
“At approximately 11.46pm police received a report of a paint bomb thrown at a house. Enquiries into this incident are ongoing.”
