Police to patrol Catholic schools

A primary seven classroom was destroyed in the fire

Extra police are to be put on guard outside Catholic churches and schools in Ballymena following a series of sectarian attacks.

On Tuesday, arsonists set fire to Saint Louis Primary School on the Cullybackey Road destroying one classroom and damaging 10 others.

The attack came just one day after nearby St Mary's Primary in the Harryville area was petrol bombed.

Supt Terry Shevlin said extra patrols would also be deployed in the town.

"Over the past few weeks we have received additional resources following other incidents and the latest new resources will enable me to mount static police operations at vulnerable targets, such as Catholic schools," he said.

"This is in addition to patrols in places like Dunclug, Ahoghill and Harryville, where there have been recent disturbances, and patrols aimed at disrupting the activities of those involved in the loyalist feud," he said.

'Covert patrolling'

"These are all operations that will be obvious for all to see, but I am also deploying resources for covert patrolling."

Saint Louis' principal Liam Corey said he had expected to open the school for the new term on Thursday.

"The caretaker had spent all summer making sure the school was in great condition for the start of the new year. The teachers had been in, not just this week but last week, preparing," he said.

"There is very severe damage in the room where the blaze took place which is a primary seven room.

The attack on the school was widely condemned

"As everyone knows, primary sevens are immediately into a stressful period preparing for the transfer test so that is quite unfortunate from their point of view."

Education Minister Angela Smith described the incident as "deplorable".

"An attack such as this is totally unacceptable and there can be no possible justification or excuse for this type of behaviour," she said.

Patrick Walsh, the Catholic Bishop of Down and Connor, said it was now up to political representatives from both sides of the community to show a united front against sectarianism.

"I think the time has passed for simply making statements of condemnation," he told the BBC.

"It is time for action and I would like to appeal to our elected representatives to be together for the public good," he said.

"Our representatives must be seen together and must take action together."

Principal Liam Corey said the school was to open on Thursday

Bishop Walsh said he wanted them "to be seen together on the streets".

"After all, public representatives are there for the common good, not just to represent a particular party political point of view," he added.

Sinn Fein assembly member Philip McGuigan condemned those responsible for the attack.

"This is another disgraceful attack on a primary school in Ballymena," he said.

"People are absolutely sickened and disgusted at this continuing campaign."

Examine 'primary causes'

SDLP councillor Declan O'Loan said such attacks could not be blamed on a tiny section of the community and indicated a deep communal problem in the area.

"It is absolutely essential that the elected representatives go far beyond condemnation and start examining the primary causes of this very determined sectarian campaign against Catholic buildings," he said.

The SDLP's Declan O'Loan said the attacks indicated a deep problem

Ulster Unionist Councillor James Currie said the government should put more resources into policing to deal with the increase in sectarian attacks in the town.

"The police have to provide protection for the whole community and if they go and provide extra protection for one particular element and then we have a spate of burglaries they will be criticised," he said.

"So if we are going to increase policing the government needs to put more resources into policing. This should be treated as an emergency."

Meanwhile, a separate attack in County Antrim is also being treated as sectarian by police.

Paint was thrown at a house in Bleach Green Avenue in Newtownabbey on Tuesday night, damaging windows and walls.

DUP MP for East Antrim Sammy Wilson said he strongly condemned the attack.

"I don't suppose there is any point in me making appeals because I suspect the people who carry out these acts are well beyond the persuasion of politicians," he said.

"I think the community needs to be vigilant, anything that is seen suspicious needs to be reported to the police, the police must be active.