A DISABLED Catholic man and his four-year-old son are the victims of criminal damage incidents being treated by police as sectarian hate crimes.
Since July the man's car has been targeted three times outside their home on Ravenhill Avenue in south-east Belfast.
The latest attack happened on Sunday when windows were smashed on the vehicle's passenger side.
It follows car windows being smashed in July, and white paint thrown over a replacement vehicle last month.
In the period between the earlier incidents, it is understood a housing association warned the man of a threat against him and advised him to leave the property.
He was told an intermediary group called Alternatives had informed the housing body of the threat.
The 64-year-old, who it's believed lost a leg years ago in an accident, presented himself to the Housing Executive (NIHE) as homeless.
However, he was not given intimidation points to move up the housing waiting list. He has declined an offer of temporary accommodation.
All three incidents are being treated by police as sectarian hate crimes.
It is understood police do not believe they have any information to suggest a paramilitary link to the attacks.
Police have appealed for anyone with information to contact them.
Asked whether possible paramilitary involvement is being examined, a PSNI spokesman said: "This investigation is at an early stage and enquiries are ongoing, we continue to appeal for information in relation to these incidents.
"We do not discuss the security of individuals and no inference should be drawn from this.
"However, if we receive information that a person's life may be at risk we will inform them accordingly.
"We never ignore anything which may put an individual at risk."
The Ravenhill Avenue area has been at the centre of concerns over loyalist paramilitary intimidation in the past.
In 2017, a nearby cross-community housing development made headlines after four Catholic families were forced to flee their homes following threats blamed on loyalist paramilitaries.
Cantrell Close was part of the Stormont executive's 'Together: Building a United Community' programme.
Earlier this summer, UVF flags were placed on lampposts in the mixed housing development for the third year in a row.
Radius Housing Association, which manages the Ravenhill Avenue property, said: "The safety and well-being of our tenants is of the utmost importance to Radius Housing.
"Where serious incidents or threats occur we will work with NIHE and other agencies to ensure the safety of our tenants."
A Housing Executive spokesman said: "We can confirm that we are working with this applicant, who presented himself to the Housing Executive as homeless.
"When assessing any applicant we make enquiries from various sources to assist in the decision making process, including the PSNI, and will ask for written reports on any incidents, seeking confirmation of any risks or threats that may exist.
"In this case, the criteria for intimidation points has not been met. However, we have offered him temporary accommodation and will continue to work to identify a long-term solution to his housing needs.
"Should new evidence come to light we will, of course, review the situation."
A spokeswoman for East Belfast Alternatives said they "do not discuss any individual referrals/cases".
Meanwhile last Thursday in an unrelated incident, a brick was thrown at windows at a house in nearby Global Crescent.
Police have appealed for any witnesses to contact them.
