UTV News - Ballymoney attack victim speaks out

Subscribe to the News Feed Newsback to News

Ballymoney attack victim speaks out

Text Size:  A  A |  POST A COMMENT |  PRINT |  SHARE 
The car destroyed in Ballymoney in a possible sectarian petrol bomb attack
The owner of a car destroyed in what may have been a sectarian petrol bomb attack in Ballymoney has spoken out.

The vehicle was burnt out outside 20-year-old Gary Kelly's Queen Street home in the early hours of Friday morning, at around 1am.

The young man, who works as a classroom assistant and plays bowls for Ireland, lives there with his parents, his brother and disabled uncle.

Police are investigating a possible sectarian motive - but Mr Kelly told u105 he and his family have never had any trouble like this before.

"My family can't understand why or what the reason is for us being attacked in this way - we've never had any trouble," he said.

"It's upsetting and I'm in a bit of shock, to be honest.

'Shock'

"It's disappointing because we're just a quiet family that keep ourselves to ourselves and don't bother nobody. We have no suspicions whatsoever about who's responsible because we can't think why."

Mr Kelly, who said he does not really go out in Ballymoney, works at the town's Catholic secondary school Our Lady of Lourdes.

He said: "I don't know if there could be any link to that or not. Possibly, because it's a Catholic school - but I don't honestly know."

Police have appealed for information about the attack, which has been condemned by local Sinn Fein MLA Daithi McKay.

In branding the incident "disgraceful", he said: "I know that people from across the community in this town will condemn it outright.

"People are being targeted here for the solitary reason that they are Catholic, nothing more, and the fact that petrol bombs are being used demonstrates the seriousness of the situation."

© UTV News

Send to a friend

Email To
Your Name
Comment
Close
At 19:45 on 07 November 2009, Ballymoney resident wrote:
While I do agree that there is a degree of sectarianism in Ballymoney it is outweighed by the majority of decent residents who are amongst the friendliest, most helpful people you could come across. While totally condemning this sickening attack let us remember the majority of good people in our town and appeal to them that if they know anything that could help the PSNI they should come forward. Ballymoney is a great wee town - it is only a small percentage of the community giving Ballymoney bad press.
At 12:52 on 06 November 2009, Eddie McQuillan wrote:
Most residents in Ballymoney are appauled and saddened by this attack. There is an element of scum in Ballymoney that are trying to raise secterian tensions in the town. Dont let them prevail. Anyone with any info on this attack contact the PSNI now.
Post a comment
Name:
Email Address:
Location:
Your Comment:
Verification Code: Captcha Code  Get New Code
POST COMMENT
[Before posting, please take a moment to familiarise yourself with our house rules. All comments are moderated and will not appear immediately. Any information you enter, including email and web addresses, will be displayed on our site if passed by our moderators.]