Pensioners' home petrol bombed

The sisters have lived in the area for 60 years

There has been a petrol bomb attack on the home of two elderly Protestant sisters in east Belfast.

The women, aged 73 and 79, escaped injury after a passing police patrol discovered the fire and forced their way into the house at about 0100 BST on Wednesday.

Officers helped the women downstairs before the fire brigade arrived.

Scorch damage was caused to the living room of the house.

One of the women, Lila McLaughlin, said she and her sister Greta, had been living in the area for 60 years and she had no idea why they had been targeted.

Worship

"We don't know who did it, because we have no enemies and we're respected by both denominations.

It would be inappropriate to label this as a sectarian attack or a non-sectarian attack

RUC Acting Superintendent Victor Weir

"Our motto is that you worship in your place and we'll worship in ours.

"We are very lucky. After all, a house and contents can be replaced - a life can't."

RUC Acting Superintendent Victor Weir said a number of police officers involved in the operation were treated for smoke inhalation.

"This was an unprovoked attack on these ladies," he said.

"Both communities in the Madrid Street area know these ladies well and respect them.

"Community representatives from both sections of the community are absolutely appalled and gutted at the attack on these two elderly and frail ladies, who have lived here for 60 years."

Investigation

He said representatives from both sides had been working to keep the area calm.

The police spotted the house on fire in Madrid Street

"It would be inappropriate to label this as a sectarian attack or a non-sectarian attack," said the officer.

It is understood to have been the fifth time the sisters' Madrid Street home had been attacked.

The area is on an interface between Protestant and Catholic districts.

Meanwhile, Sammy Wilson of the Democratic Unionist Party said he believed the attack was sectarian.

Dividing line

"Whoever carried this out, potentially was a double murderer," said Mr Wilson, who is an East Belfast councillor.

Joe O'Donnell: "This emanated from the loyalist community"

He added: "It would be a very well-informed guess to say that here were two elderly Protestant women living by themselves, close to the dividing line with Short Strand, from which there have been sectarian attacks and therefore the attack was sectarian."

However, Sinn Fein councillor Joe O'Donnell, said there had been incidents last year in which Protestant homes were attacked by loyalists.

"I would suggest that this is where this attack has emanated from," he said.

The Rev David Coe said he had known the sisters since he became a vicar in the area 12 years ago.

'Deeply distressed'

"They have lived here very happily through the years and through the Troubles," he said.

"They are deeply distressed, but they are bearing up quite well."

Fire Officer David Curry said if it had not been for the vigilance of the police, the women could have died in the attack.

"Their lives were saved by a local patrol coming across the fire, and quickly entering the house and alerting them," said Mr Curry.