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'It could have been a very different story': Petrol bomb thrown into Antrim family's home

Three adults and a 12-year-old boy were in the house at the time, but were uninjured.

POLICE IN BALLYMENA are appealing for witnesses after a petrol bomb attack on a house in the Alfred Street Place area of the town earlier Friday.

A petrol bomb was thrown at the property around 3.45am this morning. Three adults and a 12-year-old boy were in the house at the time, but were uninjured.

A window in the house was smashed and scorch damage caused to an exterior wall. It’s understood that extensive damage was done to the kitchen and that gas pipes were also damaged.

North Antrim DUP member Paul Frew condemned the attack, saying “we could have had a very different story”.

“This attack has caused a great deal of shock to the family involved and the wider community of Ballymena.

I know many in the community including myself, cannot understand why this family home has been targeted in this way. This is a close-knit community and one which does not want to have this type of activity taking place in Ballymena.

“I would ask anyone with any information to contact and assist the police.”

Detective Chief Inspector Dunny McCubbin called on anyone who saw anything suspicious in the early hours of the morning to contact detectives at Ballymena on the non-emergency police number 101, quoting reference 147 of 21/4/17.

Alternatively, if you would prefer to provide information without giving your details, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers and speak to them anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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7 Comments
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    Mute Frog Náireach
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    Apr 21st 2017, 1:02 PM

    There’s a growing instability in the North these days. Strong leadership is needed North and South, to prevent the outbreak of violence, and to maintain the peace.

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    Mute oneill
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    Apr 21st 2017, 1:57 PM

    @Frog Náireach: There is peace and there is no chance of the violent past returning. These types of attacks are being carried out by Loyalists against immigrants or other loyalist gang members. They dont threaten the stability of the North.

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    Mute Frog Náireach
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    Apr 21st 2017, 5:38 PM

    @oneill: There’s obviously some chance. Alot of crazy people. and it is violent and therefore threatens the peace

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    Mute John O'Driscoll
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    Apr 21st 2017, 7:44 PM

    You see the craziness in the way they drive down here alone. And in their laws where guilt is presumed and innocence must be proven. It’s sui generis. A place apart up there beyond the bogs and rushes and abandoned wastes of North Cavan and Fermanagh. Leave them where they are another 300 years might be fit for civilised company then.

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    Mute Leo Powers
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    Apr 22nd 2017, 5:35 AM

    @John O’Driscoll: You on the sauce early tonight then? You sound like a teenage girl trying to imbibe the spirit Seamus Heaney in a bid to sound intellectual. The only abandoned waste here is your own grasp of reality. If you’re an example of this “civilised company” that is lacking everywhere North of Cavan ; then god help us. Pompous little man.

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    Mute Scundered
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    Apr 22nd 2017, 7:06 AM

    @John O’Driscoll: you do realise your tarring mindset sounds like it’s 300 years old?

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    Mute John O'Driscoll
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    Apr 21st 2017, 7:42 PM

    More renewable hate initiatives. Never let them in they are different from us. Been too long and would be a disaster. They remember 400 years ago like it was yesterday and every carefully planned insult murder and wrong done since. Done by the “other side” that is. Never their own. Or “mines” as they say in that curious argot.

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