Fire blankets to protect Catholics from attacks

CATHOLIC families were given fire blankets yesterday in an unprecedented move by police attempting to thwart sectarian attacks by loyalist paramilitaries in the North.

The were distributed in the village of Ahoghill, near Ballymena, Co Antrim, where several Catholic houses, churches and pubs have been hit with pipe, petrol and paint bombs.

It is the first time police have take such action, but it confirmed fears that the violence involving elements within the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) could get worse.

The scale of the anti-Catholic intimidation is causing increasing concerns among police chiefs.

The decision to hand out fire blankets was based on intelligence there could more attacks.

But a spokesperson also insisted: “It is purely a precaution and we hope they never have to be used.”

Details of the new police action emerged just hours after a Sinn Féin councillor accused loyalists of attempting to kill him and his family after their home was petrol-bombed.

Dessie Ward was at home when the house in Banbridge, Co Down, was attacked.

Nobody was hurt, but it signalled a widening of the campaign of intimidation by paramilitaries.

Mr Ward, a member of Banbridge District Council, urged Democratic Unionist Party leader Ian Paisley to intervene in a bid to end the violence.

Mr Ward said: “The DUP can no longer hide behind anti-republican rhetoric as a tactic in avoiding their responsibilities in ending this campaign of violence and intimidation.”