Northern Ireland

Willie Frazer 'attacked' by man who tried to enter his house

Willie Frazer has claimed a man threatened and attacked him at his Co Armagh home in the early hours of Sunday
Willie Frazer has claimed a man threatened and attacked him at his Co Armagh home in the early hours of Sunday Willie Frazer has claimed a man threatened and attacked him at his Co Armagh home in the early hours of Sunday

LOYALIST victims' campaigner Willie Frazer has claimed he was attacked on the doorstep of his home in Co Armagh.

Mr Frazer said he was also threatened during the alleged assault at his Markethill home during the early hours of Sunday.

The high-profile activist said he was punched in the chest after answering a knock at the door.

"There was a knock to the door about 2am and I thought it might be someone for my son as he wasn't that long home after a night out.

"But when I opened the door, some boy was there and tried to get into the house.

"He had a go at me. He landed a punch to the left-hand side of the chest.

"My son had come down and wrestled him to the ground. We then let him up and he was still slabbering and then he made off."

Mr Frazer said he and his family had been left shaken.

"I don't believe it was sectarian, it's the same old carry on, giving me the usual threats," he said.

"I've no idea why he was here or who it was. It's annoying for my family. It's becoming a habit and it's not fair on my family. I will have to consider an intercom system.

"This is the way we lived 40 years ago, I shouldn't have opened the door."

Mr Frazer said he had reported the matter to police.

A police spokesman said the PSNI had received a report of an assault.

"Just after 1.40am, police received the report that a man had went to the door of a house in the Tandragee Road area of Markethill and verbally assaulted and pushed the male resident, a man aged in his fifties," the spokesman added. 

The alleged attack comes after Mr Frazer criticised Belfast International Airport for selling what he described as "a sea of green leprechauns and pro-Irish paraphernalia".

The airport said his claims were "attention seeking".