Loyalists hound Catholic woman out
The young woman, believed to be Catholic and living alone, was visited at her home on the loyalist Anteville estate in Larne last night by a gang which ransacked the rooms.
Police said nine windows were smashed, two televisions thrown out of the windows, the bathroom damaged and paint thrown around the flat.
Local Democratic Unionist Party councillor Jack McKee said he had been contacted by someone acting on behalf of the woman and asked for help in getting her re-housed.
"She is too frightened to stay. They threatened her, told her to get out of the estate and terrorised her.
"I think it is disgraceful, sick, to think this can happen. Whether Protestant or Roman Catholic, people should be allowed to live in peace."
Mr McKee said he did not know what was behind the attack, but added: "I have learned from experience, there doesn't really have to be a reason.
"If your face doesn't fit or if you have the wrong religion, that is excuse enough for these people. They contribute nothing to society and they don't have the support in the community. Both Protestant and Roman Catholic are totally opposed to them."
A police spokesman said a motive had not yet been established for the attack on the woman and appealed for anyone with information to contact them.
Meanwhile, angry unionists were yesterday preparing to go to the British government in their fight to stop the name of Londonderry being changed to Derry. Nationalists on the city council have voted through a motion to change the name back to Derry after nearly 400 years.
But it will be the government which will decide if the move goes ahead and the Queen, who will formally have the last say as the name Londonderry was granted by Royal Charter.
Democratic Unionist Party members of the council are preparing to lead a delegation to Northern Ireland Office Minister Angela Smith who is responsible for the Department of Environment in Belfast.
Unionists have always referred to Northern Ireland's second city as Londonderry nationalists use Derry.
On Tuesday night, Sinn Féin and the SDLP banded together in the council chamber to press through the name change motion. DUP MP for East Londonderry Gregory Campbell expressed disappointment at the vote and hit out at the SDLP for siding with the republicans.
"We are particularly disappointed the party that have for many years held themselves up as a paragon of cross-community virtue have effectively said to unionists here: 'It doesn't matter about you.'
"We have been told for the best part of three decades the unionist community can't simply get changes without bringing the nationalists with them.
"The position is exactly reversed here."
