13/12/2010
PUP Man 'Won't Be Silenced By Bomb'
The latest in a long-running series of pipe-bomb attacks in Antrim has left a local politician defiant.
In an attack since condemned by the Alliance party's local MLA and Stormont Justice Minister, David Ford, a pipe bomb exploded at the house of Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) member Ken Wilkinson.
No one was injured in the attack, which happened at 3am on Sunday when the bomb - left on a windowsill - went off.
Mr Wilkinson, who lives alone, said he was lucky he was not injured: "The front windows were done, there is damage to the inside of the house, the fascia board and soffit on the outside - they will all have to be replaced," he said, on the incident - that happened in the Milltown Road area of Antrim.
Justice Minister David Ford said there had been a number of similar incidents in the town recently and that they "must end".
"They are achieving nothing except to bring disruption and misery to the streets on Antrim," he added.
David Ford MLA said: "These attacks must end, they are achieving nothing except to bring disruption and misery to the streets on Antrim. The local population is extremely worried where the next in this series of pipe bomb attacks is going to happen.
"I am only glad that no one was injured in this attack. This must have been a very traumatic experience for those inside the house at the time of the attack."
Local Alliance Cllr Neil Kelly said: "The people behind these attacks are just a small minority who do not represent the views of the vast majority of Antrim who all oppose this violence on our streets. Everybody else has moved on from the troubles, they should do the same."
The victim, Mr Wilkinson, believes he was targeted because he has criticised attacks such as these in the past: "I'm outspoken on many issues, with recent pipe bombs like this in the area, and I'm outspoken against drugs."
He vowed the attack would not intimidate him. "This will not stop me speaking out, if people think this will silence me they're mistaken.
"If people think this is their way of quietening me down, they have made a big mistake."
(BMcC/GK)
In an attack since condemned by the Alliance party's local MLA and Stormont Justice Minister, David Ford, a pipe bomb exploded at the house of Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) member Ken Wilkinson.
No one was injured in the attack, which happened at 3am on Sunday when the bomb - left on a windowsill - went off.
Mr Wilkinson, who lives alone, said he was lucky he was not injured: "The front windows were done, there is damage to the inside of the house, the fascia board and soffit on the outside - they will all have to be replaced," he said, on the incident - that happened in the Milltown Road area of Antrim.
Justice Minister David Ford said there had been a number of similar incidents in the town recently and that they "must end".
"They are achieving nothing except to bring disruption and misery to the streets on Antrim," he added.
David Ford MLA said: "These attacks must end, they are achieving nothing except to bring disruption and misery to the streets on Antrim. The local population is extremely worried where the next in this series of pipe bomb attacks is going to happen.
"I am only glad that no one was injured in this attack. This must have been a very traumatic experience for those inside the house at the time of the attack."
Local Alliance Cllr Neil Kelly said: "The people behind these attacks are just a small minority who do not represent the views of the vast majority of Antrim who all oppose this violence on our streets. Everybody else has moved on from the troubles, they should do the same."
The victim, Mr Wilkinson, believes he was targeted because he has criticised attacks such as these in the past: "I'm outspoken on many issues, with recent pipe bombs like this in the area, and I'm outspoken against drugs."
He vowed the attack would not intimidate him. "This will not stop me speaking out, if people think this will silence me they're mistaken.
"If people think this is their way of quietening me down, they have made a big mistake."
(BMcC/GK)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
21 August 2001
Overnight gun and pipe bomb attacks
A number of people have escaped injury after a series of gun and pipe bomb attacks on their homes in County Antrim. A ten-year-old boy escaped in jury after shots were fired into a house at Mounthill Drive in Cloughmills, County Antrim.
Overnight gun and pipe bomb attacks
A number of people have escaped injury after a series of gun and pipe bomb attacks on their homes in County Antrim. A ten-year-old boy escaped in jury after shots were fired into a house at Mounthill Drive in Cloughmills, County Antrim.
30 July 2001
Police investigate County Antrim pipe bomb attacks
Police in Northern Ireland are investigating three overnight pipe bomb attacks on houses in County Antrim. The first incident happened in Newtownabbey when a stone, followed by a bomb, was thrown into the bedroom of a house in Abbeyville Park around 11.30pm on Sunday 29 July.
Police investigate County Antrim pipe bomb attacks
Police in Northern Ireland are investigating three overnight pipe bomb attacks on houses in County Antrim. The first incident happened in Newtownabbey when a stone, followed by a bomb, was thrown into the bedroom of a house in Abbeyville Park around 11.30pm on Sunday 29 July.
16 September 2015
UDA Responsible For Recent Bomb Attacks In Ahoghill
The PSNI has confirmed that the UDA was responsible for the recent bomb attacks in Ahoghill, Co Antrim, a Sinn Féin councillor has claimed. North Antrim MLA Daithí McKay said he will raise the status of unionist paramilitary ceasefires with the local PSNI Commander.
UDA Responsible For Recent Bomb Attacks In Ahoghill
The PSNI has confirmed that the UDA was responsible for the recent bomb attacks in Ahoghill, Co Antrim, a Sinn Féin councillor has claimed. North Antrim MLA Daithí McKay said he will raise the status of unionist paramilitary ceasefires with the local PSNI Commander.
24 July 2001
Pipe bomb attacks continue in Country Antrim
County Antrim has been the focus of several overnight incidents involving pipe bombs, which saw one Portrush man narrowly escape injury when his house was singled out for attack. The device was thrown through the window of the house in Glenmanus Park at around midnight on Monday 23 July, but failed to go off.
Pipe bomb attacks continue in Country Antrim
County Antrim has been the focus of several overnight incidents involving pipe bombs, which saw one Portrush man narrowly escape injury when his house was singled out for attack. The device was thrown through the window of the house in Glenmanus Park at around midnight on Monday 23 July, but failed to go off.
18 March 2005
Body uncovered following caravan fire
Police have uncovered a body following a fire in a caravan parked in the garden of a house in Co Antrim. The body was discovered in the early hours of Friday at Taylor's Avenue in Carrickfergus, however fire investigators have yet to determine a cause of the blaze.
Body uncovered following caravan fire
Police have uncovered a body following a fire in a caravan parked in the garden of a house in Co Antrim. The body was discovered in the early hours of Friday at Taylor's Avenue in Carrickfergus, however fire investigators have yet to determine a cause of the blaze.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.