Three Catholic churches attacked
Police are investigating attacks on three Catholic churches in Ballymena early this morning.
And the incidents have sparked calls for the north Antrim community to "keep a lid on tit for tat sectarian attacks".
A bottle filled with paint was thrown at a church on Crebilly Road at around 4.47am today.
Paint bombs were also thrown at a church on the Larne Road, and at a church and on headstones on Portglenone Road.
Elsewhere, a car was driven into the grounds of Crosskeys GAA Club club in the Ahoghill area and set on fire.
Police said the gates to the premises on the Crosskeys Road were forced open during the incident, but no damage was caused to the building or pitch.
They are investigating the possibility that this attack may be linked to the other incidents in the Ballymena and Ahoghill areas.
Police have appealed for anyone with information to come forward.
North Antrim Sinn Fein MLA Daithi McKay condemned the sectarian paint bombing of the Catholic churches and said a GAA mural in the north Antrim village of Dunloy was also attacked.
"This was clearly a series of orchestrated attacks on Catholic Church and GAA property in the North Antrim area last night which needs to be condemned outright," he said.
"Unfortunately, such incidents have occurred before in the lead-up to the 12th and there is an onus on everybody in this area, especially elected representatives, to use their influence to ensure that tensions do not rise further and that attacks on either side of the community are brought to an end.
"I would urge anyone with any information on these attacks to bring it forward to the authorities and ensure that those behind the attacks are prosecuted."
The SDLP's Declan O'Loan said he was saddened by the vandalism. He said it was a return to the kind of sectarian attack that had not been seen for some time in the area.
"Things have been very settled and very calm and certainly that has changed recently," he said.
He said negative forces were filling a vacuum that he claimed was being created as a result of poor leadership from some unionist politicians.
DUP MLA for north Antrim Mervyn Storey said: "There are clearly those out there who feel there is a need for these tit for tat sectarian attacks.
"But if you attack an Orange Hall one night and a Roman Catholic church the next you are left with the situation that an eye for an eye leaves us both blind.
"The community must not let this spiral out of control.
"Whatever differences have arisen in north Antrim - with he UPRG and other groups - need to be worked through."
Speaking on behalf of local Presbyterian Churches, Rev Joseph Andrews, Clerk of the Ballymena Presbytery said: "When any vandalism to Church property of any denomination takes place, it is very unsettling and distressing for the members of the congregation and embarrassing to the local community."
He said he has spoken to the clergy at the different Catholic chapels and, "at a time when we would all agree that local relations are very good such attacks are disappointing".
Rev Andrews called for recent tit for tat attacks to end, "Everyone has a duty to worship God and everyones culture should be free from attack," he said.
SDLP MLA Declan O'Loan said the attack was a "disgraceful episode for the Ballymena area".
He said in recent weeks there has been a "state of nervousness and tension in the area, particularly about the flags disputes that has now manifested into these attacks."
North Antrim Sinn Fin MLA Daith McKay condemned the sectarian paint bombing of Catholic churches.
"Unfortunately such incidents have occurred before in the lead-up to the twelfth and there is an onus on everybody in this area, especially elected representatives to use their influence to ensure that tensions do not rise further and that attacks on either side of the community are brought to an end."
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Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 12 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South
