Loyalist thugs linked to house attack

Loyalist thugs were today linked to an attack on the home of a cross-community Alliance Party councillor in Northern Ireland.

Up to eight masked men brandishing hammers smashed front windows on Stuart Dickson’s house at Greenisland, Co Antrim, in an attack during the night.

Two cars parked outside the property at Farm Lodge Park were also hit by paint bombs as the gang went on the rampage as Mr Dickson and his wife slept.

Mr Dickson said as he surveyed the mess today that the only motive he could think of was his stand against murals glorifying the Ulster Freedom Fighters.

‘‘Recently I have been dealing with the Housing Executive about two paramilitary murals that have appeared in Greenisland,’’ he said.

‘‘That’s the only thing that I can think that I have been doing.

‘‘The murals are UFF murals. More than that I don’t know.’’