Family forced out by attacks

A pipe bomb and shots were fired at the house

A Catholic family whose home was targeted in a gun and pipe bomb attack have said they will never live in the house again.

The police have said they believe the attack on the house in Norwood Court in Coleraine, County Londonderry, was sectarian.

The device was thrown at the house at about 2100 BST on Thursday night.

A number of shots were also fired at the house.

It was the third time the family's home has been attacked.

Uel Norton said his house has been attacked three times

The bomb exploded in the front garden. No-one was home at the time and there were no injuries.

A window frame was damaged in the explosion.

Pipe bombs are a weapon associated with loyalist paramilitary groups.

Uel Norton said the only reason his home was attacked was because his family was Catholic.

"Somebody could have been killed, no doubt about it. You don't plant to shoot bullets or throw a pipe bomb if you're planning to kill someone or hurt them.

"My 16-year-old son says he will never step back inside the door."

He said he was a trainer of a cross-community soccer team and had a brother in the RUC for 20 years.

Local SDLP assembly member John Dallat said the family had been targeted before in other attacks.

"I'm absolutely horrified that this campaign of attacks against Catholic homes in Coleraine appears to be continuing despite our best efforts to have it stamped out," he said.

"Unfortunately this is the third time in five years that this totally innocent family have had to run the gauntlet of sectarian bigots who have attacked their home both with gunfire and with a pipe bomb."