Attacks on Catholics continue

Posted by Jim on October 17, 2016

An arson attack on a flat in north Belfast was a sectarian bid by
loyalists to burn out Catholics living in the area.

A bin was pushed against the door of a ground floor flat on Ligoniel
Road and set alight at around 1.25am on Thursday morning.

The death threat ‘KAT’ had been spray-painted outside the property,
which is in a predominantly loyalist area. ‘KAT’ is an abbreviation for
‘Kill All Taigs [Catholics]’.

The blaze damage the ground flat and an upper apartment. Three people
were treated for smoke inhalation, but the targets of the attack escaped
serious injury.

Meanwhile, there was shock when two loyalists who nearly killed a young
Catholic man in an “animalistic” sectarian attack in Derry were this
week given only suspended sentences.

Judge Barney McElholm admitted the victim was lucky to be alive as he
allowed two Waterside men to walk free for their part in the attack,
which took place in the predominantly Protestant Fountain area of the
city.

Darren Dougherty and Robert Lyttle, both 24, were charged with assault
and assault occasioning actual bodily harm respectively.

The court heard the victim was attacked by a group of six-seven males
who were said to have shouted sectarian abuse such as “you Fenian
bastard” during the 2014 attack. CCTV footage played in court showed
Lyttle kicking the victim six times as he lay on the ground and
Dougherty on top of him as girls attempted to break it up.

Passing sentence, Judge McElholm said the attack could have proved fatal
and the victim could have sustained “serious and permanent brain
damage.”

Addressing both defendants, Judge McElholm said: “Both of you need to
take a long hard look at yourselves.” Dougherty was a given three months
jail sentence suspended for two years and Lyttle was given a nine month
jail term suspended for two years