Vigil highlights shop robberies

Owner Gerard Hone (right) with local and vigil organiser Gerry McCartney

Residents of a Londonderry estate are to hold a vigil outside their local shop on Monday after it was robbed three times in less than six weeks.

In the most recent attack on Friday, two youths armed with a knife forced a shop assistant to open the till.

The owner of Hone's Food Stores in Glenowen, Gerard Hone, said his staff have been threatened with knives, a hammer and a broken bottle.

"My employees are fearful, they're living on their nerves," he said.

"If somebody comes in with a hoody, they're looking and they're jumping and they're probably afraid to come into work.

"It's an awful climate to live in and to work in," he said.

"The people have offered me their support and the staff are happy that has happened, because for a while you do feel as if you're being targeted on your own.

"It's comforting to me and the staff that we have the backing of the community in this," said Mr Hone.

One of the organisers of the vigil, Gerry McCartney, said local people want to show their solidarity with Mr Hone and his staff.

"It's an absolute disgrace that people feel a community facility like this is open to attack," he said.

"This community will gather in strength and send out a very clear message to those who are involved that the community will not accept this.

"I hope that it makes a difference, and I hope it draws a line under these attacks.

"The people working in this shop are our neighbours," said Mr McCartney.