Northern Ireland

Nuns' car damaged in attack from nationalist side of Belfast interface

Damage caused to the car in Workman Avenue. Picture Mal McCann
Damage caused to the car in Workman Avenue. Picture Mal McCann Damage caused to the car in Workman Avenue. Picture Mal McCann

A CAR belonging to nuns living on a Belfast interface has had its rear windscreen smashed in what police have described as a sectarian attack.

The vehicle was parked outside the nuns' house in unionist Workman Avenue, close to the gates that separate the street from the nationalist Springfield Road, when it was targeted around 6.20pm on Sunday night.

Police said a rock was thrown by a youth who made off down the Springfield Road.

A rock was thrown through the windscreen of the car in Workman Avenue. Picture Mal McCann
A rock was thrown through the windscreen of the car in Workman Avenue. Picture Mal McCann A rock was thrown through the windscreen of the car in Workman Avenue. Picture Mal McCann

"It was very distressing for the owner," a police spokesman said.

The nuns have been targeted on numerous occasions over the years from the nationalist side of the wall.

Shortly before the incident, police officers broke up a fight between a group of young people who had met just off the Springfield Road for an arranged fight.

Police said three youths were being reported.

Nicola Verner, who will be standing for the DUP in the local council elections, condemned the incident and said it had begun as an arranged fight which had progressed into a sectarian attack.

"These arranged fights seem to be gathering pace and they are very concerning. The reality is that someone is going to get extremely hurt," she said.

"This could escalate into using knives and could spiral out of control very quickly.

"The police have been very pro-active and have foiled a lot of these fights over the weekend.

"The fights heighten sectarian tensions and attacks at the interfaces."