Attack on home condemned

Mr Bradley's wife and son were in the house when it was attacked

A petrol bomb attack on the home of the vice-chairman of the Policing Board, Denis Bradley, has been condemned.

A number of petrol bombs were thrown at Mr Bradley's home in the Templemore Park area of Londonderry at about 2030 GMT on Thursday.

Security Minister Jane Kennedy and Policing Board Chairman Professor Desmond Rea condemned the attack as cowardly.

The Taoiseach Bertie Ahern also condemned the attack and paid tribute to the work of the policing board which he said would not be affected by the incident.

Mr Bradley said he would not be intimidated.

"I won't be leaving any policing board, I won't be leaving anything," he said.

"It was two children who did this, some adult sent them out and there is no damage done.

The potential consequences of such an attack could have been disastrous Richard Russell Police commander

"But that is not the point. There will be damage done someday.

"Someone will be killed, someone will be hurt."

Mr Bradley was in Belfast at the time of the attack, but his wife and 15-year-old son were at home.

They were uninjured, but badly shaken.

Local police commander Richard Russell said they were lucky not to have been killed.

"It is scandalous to attack a house with a woman and basically a young boy inside," he said.

Death threat

"The potential consequences of such an attack could have been disastrous.

"She was alone in the house with her 15-year-old son to be confronted by a mass of flames at her front door."

One of the devices did not explode and minor scorch damage was caused to the front wall of the house.

Witnesses said they saw a number of youths running away from the house.

Mr Bradley's home has previously been attacked and he has also received a number of bullets in the post.

In September last year, a death threat was issued against Mr Bradley by the Real IRA.

Jane Kennedy said the attack was calculated

SDLP Foyle MP John Hume described the attack as "appalling".

"I am certain that I speak for the vast majority of the people of this city in utterly condemning this terrible attack on Denis and his family," he said.

"This sort of attack has no place in the new Derry or the new society we are building."

Sinn Fein's national chairperson Mitchel McLaughlin condemned what he called "the mindless idiots" who carried out the attack.

He said it was only sheer luck that prevented a multiple tragedy and that thankfully the family was uninjured.

He called on whoever was responsible for the attacks to stop and realise the serious consequences that could result from their "idiotic actions".

Sensitive issues

Presbyterian Moderator Dr Ivan McKay also condemned the attack.

Dr McKay said: "The citizenship and courage of Mr Bradley and those who serve on the Policing Board and District Policing Partnerships is in stark contrast to the cowardice of those who organise and carry out these scandalous attacks."

The Northern Ireland Policing Board handles some of the most sensitive issues facing policing and holds PSNI Chief Constable Hugh Orde and his senior officers to account.

Former assembly members and independent nominees serve on the board whose headquarters are in Belfast.

There have been several arson attacks and intimidation directed against Catholic members of district policing partnerships.

District policing partnerships were set up across Northern Ireland under reforms initiated by a commission headed by former Hong Kong Governor Chris Patten and implemented by the government.

District policing partnerships are made up of councillors and members of the local community, who work alongside the Police Service of Northern Ireland's 29 District Command Units in trying to meet local community policing needs.