Volunteer in Africa charity shop in Kilkeel speaks out after burning car slammed into building amid anti-immigration protests
A volunteer in a Kilkeel charity shop says there is “disgust” in the town about the damage caused by rioters.
Jennifer Annett told the News Letter that she does not believe her shop was deliberately targeted, though.
Amid anti-immigration protests in the Co Down town on Tuesday night, a car was set alight.
Footage shared online shows it careering down a hill and into building housing both New Beginnings charity shop and the Golden Seaside Chinese takeaway.
Mrs Annett told the News Letter that her shop was able to reopen on Thursday morning.
Her son works in Uganda doing the work for which the shop raises money: New Beginnings Charitable Foundation.
"We support a home in Uganda for abandoned street children, handicapped children,” she said.
"We had a charity meeting on Tuesday night not far away from the shop, actually.
"It was just over and we came out and were getting into our cars and saw the black smoke coming from the direction of the shop so we ran up, of course.
"We weren’t targeted. It was set on fire at the top of the hill and whatever happened the car started to roll and went just right into our shop window.
"I think the car was just abandoned... I don’t know that it was meant to go down the hill.”
What was the damage like?
“We need two new windows at the front, window frame, shutters, and signage,” she said.
Asked if insurance will cover it, she said: “I hope so.”
As to the reaction from the local community, she said: “Everybody’s disgusted.
"It’s a very popular shop in Kilkeel, we’ve our regulars that come in every week and they’re just disgusted.
"It was a shock. But now that we’re up and running again, you keep yourself busy and you just feel like getting on with it and not letting anybody get in your way.”
In Coleraine on Wednesday night there was a protest march from Cromore Court into the town centre, according to the anti-immigrant group Our Northern Ireland Voice.
A message posted online by the group, which states that it is committed to “protecting our culture from foreign infidels”, hailed the “fantastic” turnout of between 200 to 300 people, but added that “me and the team have decided now we’re going to take a short couple-of-day break”.