Graves damaged in church attack

Graves were damaged at the Catholic church

Graves were damaged in a weekend sectarian attack on a Catholic church in Magherafelt, County Londonderry, police have said.

Paint was sprayed on 20 graves and slogans daubed on the walls at St John's Catholic church.

It was the second time the church at Castledawson Road has been targeted.

Graffiti was also sprayed on a Free Presbyterian church at Mullaghboy Hill. Police also said five Orange halls have been damaged in the past month.

Mid-Ulster Sinn Fein MP Martin McGuinness condemned the sectarian attacks in the area.

"I absolutely deplore these attempts to heighten tensions in the Magherafelt area," he said.

"There can be no equivocation, all of these attacks are equally wrong. I am clearly calling on those involved to immediately desist from their activities."

SDLP councillor Jim Campbell said the graffiti at the church had been "profane, sectarian and political".

"I just would not repeat the nature of it," he said.

Inspector Stephen Martin appealed to people with influence in the community "to take positive action to prevent an escalation of this unacceptable behaviour".

"Community relations in Magherafelt are normally very good and I am calling for an end to these sectarian attacks before they escalate," he said.

The District Commander for the area, Chief Inspector Tom Wiggins, warned vandals that his officers are engaged in a range of operations to catch those responsible.

He also said that his officers will be robust in bringing the culprits before the courts.