Northern Ireland

Rathcoole home 'completely ransacked' in sectarian attack

Masked men attacked a house at Derrycoole Park, Rathcoole in a sectarian attack on Wednesday. Picture by Mal McCann
Masked men attacked a house at Derrycoole Park, Rathcoole in a sectarian attack on Wednesday. Picture by Mal McCann Masked men attacked a house at Derrycoole Park, Rathcoole in a sectarian attack on Wednesday. Picture by Mal McCann

THE inside of a home was "completely ransacked" during a sectarian attack on the outskirts of north Belfast.

Four masked men targeted the house in the loyalist Rathcoole estate on Wednesday night.

The attackers struck at Derrycoole Park at around 11.05pm, smashing many of the windows and breaking through the front door before destroying the interior.

No-one was inside at the time and there were no injuries.

It is understood the house was among new homes built in the Rathcoole area of Newtownabbey in recent years.

SDLP councillor Noreen McClelland last night condemned the attack.

“It is appalling that in 2019 sectarian hate crimes continue to plague our communities,” she said.

Police said the house was 'completely ransacked'. Picture by Mal McCann
Police said the house was 'completely ransacked'. Picture by Mal McCann Police said the house was 'completely ransacked'. Picture by Mal McCann

“Everyone, regardless of class or creed, has the right to live free from the fear of violence and intimidation.”

She added that it was fortunate that no-one was in the house at the time.

UUP councillor Michael Maguire also said he deplored all attacks and "particularly anything sectarian - absolutely no use to this country”.

A spokesman for the PSNI said no-one was in the house when the gang struck.

“It is believed the property was completely ransacked during the incident, including a number of windows damaged,” he said.

In 2014 the homes of Polish and black families were attacked in the area, while sectarian graffiti was scrawled on the walls of a community centre.

Rathcoole was initially a mixed district having been built in phases during the 1950s and ‘60s.

It is estimated that as many as a third of its residents were Catholic at one time but throughout the 1960s and early 70s many fled as a result of intimidation.

Former IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands was born in the area and spent his early years there.

In 2015, during an inquest into the sectarian murder of a Catholic man, a former RUC officer claimed that 90 per cent of people living in the estate had "associations to people who were connected to" loyalist paramilitary organisations.

Roy Suitters was giving evidence at an inquest into the 2002 killing of Danny McColgan (20) by the UDA/UFF as he arrived for work in Rathcoole.

Unionist politicians and community workers later rejected the claim.

The district was also home to the infamous 'Tartan Gang' known as ‘Rathcoole KAI’. It is believed the initials meant ‘Kill All Irish’.