12 June 2002

Carrickfergus Alliance Councillor's home attacked

An Alliance Councillor’s home has been attacked apparently in retaliation for attempting to have a loyalist paramilitary mural removed.

Seven or eight men wearing balaclavas attacked Carrick Councillor Stewart Dickson’s home around 1am on Wednesday morning.

Every window in the front of the house was smashed with bottles of paint and hammers, and both his and his wife’s car were wrecked.

Mr Dickson and his wife were asleep when the attack took place. He said he heard a sound like a gunshot, but quickly realised it was the sound of smashing glass.

“I have been serving the entire community as a councillor in Carrickfergus since 1977, and never have I had to put up with anything like this before. I have helped others in similar circumstances, but I didn't expect to be a target myself.”

Mr Dickson said he believed the attack happened because he had recently asked authorities about the removal of two loyalist paramilitary murals.

“I have been doing this for years, not just in relation to murals, but also paramilitary flags, as people in the area are fed up seeing symbols glorifying terrorism.

“This had nothing to do with the election of Alex Maskey as Lord Mayor of Belfast. It had everything to do with standing up to paramilitaries.”

(AMcE)