ATTACKS on homes in Carrickfergus attributed to loyalists intent on intimidating Catholic residents has been condemned as "raw, naked sectarianism" by a local MLA.
Three properties in the town's Woodburn estate were targeted in attacks on Wednesday, with windows smashed at houses in the Cherry Walk, Glenfield Walk, and Pinewood Avenue areas.
A PSNI spokesperson said "a man wearing a balaclava" was seen running away following the incidents in Cherry Walk and Pinewood Avenue, which occurred shortly before 9.40pm.
The Sunday Life newspaper reported that security sources have blamed the UVF for the intimidation, claiming it has drawn up a list of people in the area they suspect of being Catholics, or living with Catholics.
It was also reported that a number of the targeted occupants have since fled the area.
Speaking to The Irish News yesterday, East Antrim Alliance MLA Stewart Dickson said last week's attacks were "absolutely abhorrent" and urged anyone with information to contact the PSNI.
"This is nothing more than raw, naked sectarianism by paramilitary criminals," he said.
"Effectively, people are being targeted on the basis of perceptions of their backgrounds. That this should lead to such attacks is absolutely abhorrent.
"There should be absolutely no place for this kind of disturbing behaviour in Carrick or anywhere else for that matter, and I would urge anyone with information on who is behind this to go to the police."