Loyalist feud behind Lurgan attack

Barrie Bradbury claims the LVF were behind the attack

A loyalist, whose family escaped injury in a pipe bomb attack on their home in Lurgan in County Armagh, claims the police knew it was going to happen.

Barrie Bradbury, his partner Sylvia and their son, were at home when the bomb exploded at 0040 GMT on Wednesday.

It caused scorch damage to the front door at Donard Gardens and also damaged the front of a neighbour's house.

Mr Bradbury has blamed the LVF for the attack and for two previous attempts on his life.

He described the device used in last night's attack as a "massive bomb" which was "definitely an attempt to kill" and said his wife was in shock and had to be sedated.

'Warned by RUC'

Mr Bradbury also claimed the RUC had warned him earlier in the evening that he was under threat.

"They knew it was happening, intelligence showed that.. but there was nobody there to stop it," he said.

Mr Bradbury said he had been attacked because he had been "very vocal" about speaking out against the LVF's alleged drug activities in the area.

"They tried to assassinate me on two occasions and they've petrol bombed the house and damaged the car," he said.

Yabbadabbadoo, any fenian will do

The slogan printed on t-shirts made by Barrie Bradbury

"As far as loyalty goes, there's no loyalty - there's loyalty in the pocket."

Several years ago, Mr Bradbury, who is a well known figure in Lurgan, was involved in controversy for making and selling t-shirts with sectarian slogans on them.

They showed a Fred Flintstone cartoon figure and bore the words: "Yabbadabbadoo, any fenian will do".

Mr Bradbury said he didn't realise "the commotion" the t-shirts would cause and said it was "one of my regrets in life".