It’s a blast as student sees Army target mother’s car

NORTHERN IRELAND student Gareth McAteer had a lot of explaining to do to his mother yesterday.

The 19-year-old borrowed her nearly new Honda Civic to go to study for his exams at Belfast’s Central library.

As he was poring over his books, he heard a commotion in the street outside and decided to take a break, get some fresh air and see what was going on.

“I heard some loud bangs and what sounded like shots, so I thought I would have a look.”

Gareth stood and watched with interest as Army technical officers dealt with a suspect vehicle parked near the offices of the Belfast Telegraph newspaper.

They were responding to a telephone bomb warning and were treating it seriously since there had been a similar incident last week and intelligence reports indicated that the Real IRA was stepping up its mid-summer campaign.

“I was watching the Army robot from a safe distance and it was really interesting because I had never seen it in action before,” he said. “It had fired a couple of shots into a car to open doors and the boot and it was only when the robot came out from behind the vehicle that I realised it was my mum’s car.

“She is going to kill me. That car is her pride and joy. It was absolutely immaculate inside and out.”

Gareth walked round with his head in his hands, composing himself before breaking the bad news to her over his mobile.

“I really don’t know why they picked out that car. I had it parked legally and there was nothing suspicious looking inside.”

He managed to inform soldiers from the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders at the scene before the car was totally wrecked but with windows broken and the boot lock blown off, Gareth may be looking to extend his student loan. He spent a few difficult minutes in conversation with his mother before handing the phone over to a policeman who explained exactly what had happened.

“She took it better than I expected,” Gareth said. “But I imagine that I have not heard the last of this.

“Now we are going to have to see how we are covered by insurance for the damage.”

The security forces around Belfast city centre are on high alert following a recent spate of attempts by dissident republican terrorists to attack major commercial targets.

Nevertheless, they were reluctant to explain why they had singled out Garth’s mother’s pride and joy for the full bomb disposal treatment.

Mrs McAteer could not be contacted last night for her reaction.