The Five Demands

Priest frustrated by attacks on church (UTV)

A Catholic priest has said he is frustrated that his church in Newtownabbey has been targeted by vandals again after a spate of attacks this year.

Paint was thrown at St Mary’s Star of the Sea on the Shore Road sometime between 7pm on Saturday and 8.30am on Sunday.

It has been targeted in numerous previous attacks – last month a petrol bomb was thrown at the building.

Parish priest Fr Anthony Alexander described the attack as “senseless” and a “pointless exercise”.

“My reaction immediately would be a sort of frustration. We’ve just got the last (attack) cleaned up, it took quite a while and to have another attack leaves you speechless in many ways,” he said.

“It’s only paint but it annoys the parishioners, it annoys the locals. Most people don’t want this to happen anywhere.

“I grew up, not to vandalise, not to destroy people’s property and I can’t understand any building being targeted, whether it’s a Catholic Church, a Presbyterian Church or an Orange Lodge.”

Police officers investigating this incident are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to get in touch.