The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland's cross-community party

David Ford

Ballymena sectarian attacks detract from parade debate: Dunlop

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 25th Jul 2005

Alliance representative for Ballymena, Jayne Dunlop, has expressed her alarm about the spate of attacks that have hit the town last night.

She is particularly concerned about what appears to be a campaign of intimidation by loyalist elements.

Jayne Dunlop said:

"The overnight attacks represent an alarming rise of sectarianism by those intent on initiating a worsening response. The blast and petrol bombs used are the opposite of civilised; they are Billy boy tactics of intimidation.

"These incidents are occurring in the backdrop of a proposed republican parade in Ballymena, and attacking all three main Catholic churches in the town detracts from a rational discussion that should be had about the parade."

ENDS

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