Pipebomb attack on family

A second device was thrown through the window

A Catholic family, including three children, have escaped injury in a pipebomb attack at their home in Armoy, County Antrim.

A device exploded in the back yard of the house at Turnarobert Park at about 0100 BST on Sunday.

A second pipebomb thrown through a kitchen window failed to explode and was made safe by the army.

The RUC said the devices were similar to those used in previous loyalist attacks.

Margaret and Harry McClafferty were watching television as their three children slept upstairs.

They heard a loud explosion, followed by the sound of breaking glass.

I harm nobody. I go to my work and come home from my work

Harry McClafferty

The family believe they were an easy target and were attacked because of their religion.

They live in a row of mainly Catholic-owned terrace houses.

"We have just been unlucky that it was us - I would just like to know why," said Mr McClafferty.

"I harm nobody. I go to my work and come home from my work.

"I go to the bingo and have a drink in the house, but that is it - that's my life."

Police appeal

The police have appealed for anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area to contact them.

Harry McClafferty: "We were unlucky"

Last week, two pipe bombs exploded in a car left outside a Gaelic Athletic Association club in Armoy.

The devices were left in an abandoned vehicle at the Glenshesk Road on Monday morning.

They were made safe by the army.

A separate security alert at a GAA club in Ballycastle, in north County Antrim, was declared a hoax.

A pipe bomb also exploded in Limavady, County Londonderry.

A man picked up the bomb outside a house in the Roe Mill road area of the town.

He threw it onto grass shortly before it went off.