'Sick' attacks must stop
Wednesday, 19 November 2008
POLITICIANS throughout Mid-Ulster are united in their opposition to a spate of attacks on Protestant and Roman Catholic properties throughout the district.
In the past two weeks alone there have been no less than seven attacks on Orange Halls and GAA clubs, a housing estate and in Cookstown town centre.
Many of the attacks involved the use of explosives.
In the latest incidents at the weekend, an Orange Hall near Pomeroy was badly damaged in an explosion and pipe bombs were discovered in a housing estate in Coagh and in Cookstown town centre.
Cookstown.
The bomb discovered in Cookstown on Sunday has been described by Police as 'viable'.
The area around Burn Road where the device was found was closed for a time as Army technical officers examined the bomb. It was later removed and is currently undergoing further examination.
Residents living in the area were evacuated from their home during the security alert but returned to their houses early on Sunday evening.
Police have said that those responsible showewd "a blatant disregard for human life."
Inspector Sue Steen said that massive damage could have been caused had the bomb exploded.
She said: "The outcome had this device (in Cookstown) exploded is just unthinkable.
“This area is in the middle of town, it's a residential and a commercial area, there are houses, there are shops, there's a cinema.
“This device was found over a busy weekend when people would have been in the area just going about their daily business and the consequences had it exploded are just unthinkable, so we want to bring these people before the courts as quickly as possible."
The bomb find followed a pipe bomb in Coagh on Friday night and Inspector Steen said a link between the two incidents was one line of inquiry being examined by Police.
Police are urging vigilance and would ask that any suspicious activity or objects are reported to police. Members of the public who spot any objects which they regard as suspicious are advised not to touch them and to call Police right away on 0845 600 8000.
Pomeroy
It has been revealed how an explosive devise "blew a hole in the roof" of Bonn Orange Hall near Pomeroy during an attack at the premises between late Thursday night and early Friday morning.
In the latest of a recent spate of attacks on local Orange Halls and GAA clubs, vandals broke down the door before starting a fire and detonating the device at the hall on the Pomeroy Road. The road remained closed on Friday and diversions in place as police carried out an investigation. The incident was reported to police at 8:30 on Friday morning.
Trustee of Bonn Orange Hall, Richard Reid explained how those who were involved in the attack, forced their way into the hall with a sledgehammer causing extensive damage.
“A fire was started in the front porch but more sinister, some sort of explosive device appears to have gone off within the main hall."
Mr Reid continued on how this had caused "considerable damage to internal structures together with blowing a hole in the roof, lifting the rear of the roof up off the walls and blowing through the slates."
Mr Reid added: "It was obviously well planned and seems to be sinister as considerable force went into forcing the door open and expertise needed to cause the explosion.
“We thought we had left this sort of thing behind us but obviously there are some people in our midst want to proceed with what we had for the past 40 years. This does not get anybody anywhere."
It has been reported that two balaclavas and a torch, which was still switched on, was found in the hall.
However this is not the first attack on Bonn Orange Hall as following an arson attack during the troubles, the building was extensively renovated and re-opened in 1981. The Hall is used not only by Loyal Orders, but also by members of the local community. Mr Reid said that the local pipe band had practised at Bonn Orange Hall the previous night.
Police are urging anyone who was in the area of the Pomeroy Road on Thursday night, November 13 and Friday morning, November 14 and saw any suspicious persons or vehicles to contact them on 0845 600 8000. Information can alternatively be passed on anonymously through the 'Crimestoppers' charity on 0800 555 111.
Coagh
And a number of Coagh residents were forced to leave their homes on Friday night following the discovery of a pipe bomb in the Windsor Villas area.
Families had to be evacuated from their homes after what has been described as "a viable device" was found around 10.45pm close to a car outside the home of a single mother of one.
The road was sealed off while Army technical officers made the device safe. Residents were finally allowed to return home shortly before 8am.
Local DUP councillor Ian McCrea arrived at the scene shortly after the device was found to offer support to those evacuated from their homes. He has since said the pipe bomb scare comes after a series of attacks on houses in the area in recent weeks.
Cllr McCrea said three or four houses in the area have had their windows smashed recently through the use of a catapult and marbles.
He does not believe the attack on this home to have a sectarian motive, however he said this case was "vastly different" from previous incidents in the immediate area and "extremely concerning".
The Mid-Ulster MLA has requested that the PSNI provide the adequate resources to catch those responsible.
Police have said they are following a number of local lines of inquiry but at this stage are not considering a sectarian motive.
Last week the Courier carried reports of suspicious fires at St Malachy's Gaelic Athletic Club in Edendork and at Fr Rocks GAA building at Convent Road in Cookstown.
The attacks followed an arson attack on Ballinderry Orange Hall near Coagh and a chainsaw attack on Mulnagore Orange Hall, Pomeroy the previous weekend.
