PRC-UTE
31st May 2005, 18:29
Bigotry's open season
Mother-of-five living in fear of more attacks
By Joe Oliver
29 May 2005
WORKING mum Angela Rooney dreads the onset of the loyalist marching
season.
For it inevitably signals another wave of mindless attacks on her
home, at a flashpoint interface in north Belfast.
But even out-of-season there is little let up in the relentless
campaign of sectarian hate.
It has been like that since September 1991 - when her partner, Kevin
Flood, was shot dead by UVF killers.
"I've practically lost count of the number of attacks since then,"
care worker Angela told Sunday Life.
The latest, just over a week ago, came during a series of arson and
paint bomb attacks across the north of the city.
Several homes and cars were also damaged in the sectarian crime spree.
And Angela was left to clear up following the explosion of paint on
the doorstep of her home, at Ligoniel Road.
"It was the second time in three years that the house has been paint
bombed and it was terrifying because the children were here," she
said.
"The windows have come in around us on other occasions and my car
windows have been smashed by bricks.
"It's the same for a lot of families in this district because we are
easy targets."
So, too, was her partner Kevin (31) who was working on his tax
outside the house when he was shot by loyalists.
His killers have never been caught and at the time police described
the murder as a "random sectarian attack".
Escaping gunmen also struck a car belonging to Angela two years later
after the murders of John Todd and Brian Duffy in the same area.
Kevin had worked along with John Todd's father and brother.
"A few years ago a friend told me that a couple of guys had driven
down the street shouting, 'We shot Kevin Flood'."
"Of course, it is upsetting - especially for the children - but what
can you do?
"Now, we're coming up to July and you can almost feel the tension and
the apprehension. You are alert to every sound and every passing car
and always fearing the worst.
"After the last paint-bomb attack, the Housing Executive assured me
that they would be reinforcing my windows.
"But they never did and it denies us that little bit of security and,
at least, some small comfort of mind."
When we contacted the Housing Executive, a spokeswoman told us:
"We were in contact with Angela, a private homeowner, some time ago
to offer additional security measures as part of the POPPI
(Protection of Private Properties at Interfaces) scheme.
"Unfortunately, this work did not proceed.
"However we have called again with Angela and will be providing the
security measures to her home as a matter of urgency."
[email protected] telegraph.co.uk
Mother-of-five living in fear of more attacks
By Joe Oliver
29 May 2005
WORKING mum Angela Rooney dreads the onset of the loyalist marching
season.
For it inevitably signals another wave of mindless attacks on her
home, at a flashpoint interface in north Belfast.
But even out-of-season there is little let up in the relentless
campaign of sectarian hate.
It has been like that since September 1991 - when her partner, Kevin
Flood, was shot dead by UVF killers.
"I've practically lost count of the number of attacks since then,"
care worker Angela told Sunday Life.
The latest, just over a week ago, came during a series of arson and
paint bomb attacks across the north of the city.
Several homes and cars were also damaged in the sectarian crime spree.
And Angela was left to clear up following the explosion of paint on
the doorstep of her home, at Ligoniel Road.
"It was the second time in three years that the house has been paint
bombed and it was terrifying because the children were here," she
said.
"The windows have come in around us on other occasions and my car
windows have been smashed by bricks.
"It's the same for a lot of families in this district because we are
easy targets."
So, too, was her partner Kevin (31) who was working on his tax
outside the house when he was shot by loyalists.
His killers have never been caught and at the time police described
the murder as a "random sectarian attack".
Escaping gunmen also struck a car belonging to Angela two years later
after the murders of John Todd and Brian Duffy in the same area.
Kevin had worked along with John Todd's father and brother.
"A few years ago a friend told me that a couple of guys had driven
down the street shouting, 'We shot Kevin Flood'."
"Of course, it is upsetting - especially for the children - but what
can you do?
"Now, we're coming up to July and you can almost feel the tension and
the apprehension. You are alert to every sound and every passing car
and always fearing the worst.
"After the last paint-bomb attack, the Housing Executive assured me
that they would be reinforcing my windows.
"But they never did and it denies us that little bit of security and,
at least, some small comfort of mind."
When we contacted the Housing Executive, a spokeswoman told us:
"We were in contact with Angela, a private homeowner, some time ago
to offer additional security measures as part of the POPPI
(Protection of Private Properties at Interfaces) scheme.
"Unfortunately, this work did not proceed.
"However we have called again with Angela and will be providing the
security measures to her home as a matter of urgency."
[email protected] telegraph.co.uk