Published Friday, 08 March 2013
The Shore Road was closed for a time during the alert. (© UTV)
A suspicious object was found close to a Catholic Church on the Shore Road at around 10.30pm on Thursday.
Army bomb experts were tasked to the scene and the road was closed between the Doagh Road and the M5 roundabout.
Nearby homes were evacuated and the Valley Leisure Centre was opened to those who needed shelter.
The object was declared to be a hoax, and in the early hours of Friday morning, the road was reopened and residents were allowed to return home.
Sinn Féin Councillor Gerry O'Reilly has slammed the discovery.
"This appears to be yet another sectarian act of intimidation aimed at the Catholic population in this area.
"St Mary's on the Hill Catholic Church at Carnmoney has recently been the target of a series of sectarian attacks," he said.
"The sooner those behind these sectarian incidents are taken off the streets and brought before the courts the better, not only for Catholics but the whole of the community."