Catholic family forced out of home

Published Sunday, 21 October 2012
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A Catholic mother of three has been forced out of her Newtownards home after escaping unhurt from the fourth attack on the property in recent weeks.

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The latest incident at Lenamore Park, on Saturday at around 7.20pm, is being treated by police as a hate crime.

Janette Nelson was talking to neighbours at the back of the property when flammable liquid was poured through the letter box of the house and set alight.

The single mother and her children have been staying with relatives since the house was set on fire during a previous arson attack just over a week ago.

She had only returned to the property to gather up some personal items.

She managed to extinguish Saturday evening's fire and escaped unhurt. Minor scorch damage was caused to the door.

Her children, a two-year-old boy and girls, aged seven and 12, were not at home this time.

Janette's sister Lizzie McInerney says the family is distraught.

"She's terrified," the victim's sister said. "They are trying to kill her for reasons we don't understand."

Ms McInerney added: "The kids are absolutely heartbroken...[they are having] nightmares, crying all the time.

"It's something that kids that age don't need to experience."

When asked about the future, she said the family would have to "move out, move away from it."

Ms McInerney said although her sister did not want to leave, "she has to."

Alliance councillor Linda Cleland described the latest attack as "attempted murder."

"This is not acceptable.

"These people are now living in fear, you know, they can't stay in a place that they have loved and enjoyed for five years."

The councillor told UTV that she is doing everything in her power to get the Nelsons rehoused.

Their home was last targeted just over a week ago. The family of four was in the house when the arson attack took place.

Ms Nelson managed to pass her children out through an upstairs window to a neighbour who had climbed up onto an adjoining roof of their burning house.

They were left badly shaken but not hurt.

A 32-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of intimidation in relation to that incident was released on police bail.

Previously, sectarian graffiti was painted on the walls, windows were smashed and a car was damaged.

© UTV News
Comments Comments
37 Comments
michelle in belfast wrote (210 days ago):
This is appalling, we are living in 2012 NOT 1972!!! Someone knows who is responsible for this, it is their civic duty to report what they know to the Police and have these hurrendous people put away!!! Poor girl and her family, children of today should not have to be subjected to this mindless thugary, if they are so brave and self rightious why don't they face the girl? Never in this lifetime because they are ignorant, uneducated lay abouts who no doubt are on every social benefit available to man living off the rest of us decent people!!!!!!! Good luck to this family for a happier, safer future
derrydave in derry wrote (210 days ago):
come on utv. why oh why did you publish sammy from belfast comment. l know everyone is entitled to their say but these comments are purely secterian from a bitter person and you are simply giving this vile person a voice. any wonder this country is messed up
glen in east belfast wrote (210 days ago):
jackie you,ve said there has CCTV not been installed what is cctv gona do that,ll not stop attacks like this from happening just ask people at either side off the peace walls at the interfaces
michael in belfast wrote (211 days ago):
ive lived for 5 years in a street with both protestants and catholics. fairly pleasant as far as streets go, but if someone was attacked/burgled/hurt. i know i would be first out to help. what is happening in newtownards? wheres the niebours?
John in N.Ireland wrote (211 days ago):
I utterly condemn the attack on this innocent lady and her family, sadly since the good friday agreement both are no closer to living in mixed estates anywhere in Northern Ireland, and all those posters from the nationalist side of this argument how long would a protestant family last in the Fall's, Twinbrook,Anderstown, Ballymurphy. Short Strand just to name a few areas, i would predict i would not last 24 hours in those areas i have mentioned even if i had the time to unpack which i doubt i would have.
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