Pensioners attack 'was sectarian'

John Mussen, 82, who is suffering from cancer

A Protestant couple in their 80s have been left traumatised by an attack on their home in north Belfast.

A window of their house in Hesketh Road was smashed and paint thrown inside. The attack followed disturbances in north Belfast on Monday night.

John Mussen, 82, who is suffering from cancer, said he was not able to explain to police why his home was targeted.

DUP assembly member Nelson McCausland said that the attack was "deliberate" and "blatantly sectarian".

There were also attacks on two nationalist homes in other areas of north Belfast on Tuesday.

Neither Mr Mussen nor his wife were in the front room when a jar of paint came smashing through the window. Two other homes in the area were also attacked.

"When I went down the window was smashed, paint all over the place and a few houses across the street were painted too - it's a mess," he said.

When I went down the window was smashed, paint all over the place and a few houses across the street were painted too - it's a mess John Mussen

"I'm 32 years up here and there's never been any trouble up here before."

Local people living on the Protestant side of the interface area said they saw three youths in Celtic football jerseys drive in and out of the street and target the three homes.

The gang are reported to have been driving a red Renault Laguna. They hit a parked car as they escaped.

Speaking after visiting the homes, Mr McCausland said the attack was "designed to ensure the continuation of unrest in the area".

"This area has had to endure these type of attacks over a long period of time," said the DUP assembly member.

"Tonight's attack is a deliberate attempt to ensure that tension in the area remains high. It is blatantly sectarian and clearly well organised."

This bar on the outskirts of south Belfast was also attacked

On Monday night, petrol bombs and stones were thrown close to the Ardoyne shops in north Belfast.

Dozens of officers moved in to keep rival groups of nationalists and loyalists apart.

In the attacks on Tuesday, a petrol bomb with a firework attached was thrown at a house in Skegoneill Avenue. It did not go off and no one was hurt.

A car was set alight outside a house in Somerdale Park and paint was also thrown at the property. The attacks on nationalists are believed to have been sectarian.

A bar on the outskirts of south Belfast was also targeted in an overnight paint attack.

The Motte and Bailey Pub in Dunmurry had white paint thrown across the front door and windows during the early hours.

The police are trying to establish a motive for the attack but it is believed to be sectarian.