PSNI officers last night mounted patrols outside Catholic churches and schools in Ballymena in an attempt to stem worsening sectarian attacks. The moves to increase security followed serious firebomb attacks on two Catholic primary schools in Ballymena this week, which caused serious fire and smoke damage and postponed the start of the new school term.
A 13-year-old boy was charged last night in connection with the arson attack on St Louis primary school on Tuesday and is expected to appear before Ballymena Magistrates this morning. Another 15-year-old boy has been arrested and is being questioned about the same incident.
Liam Corey, principal of St Louis school, said the new term would now start on Monday. He was called to his school by the PSNI after the alarm had sounded.
"We found the primary 7 classroom ablaze," he said. "The window seemed to have been forced open and the curtains were ablaze. The room, the resources - everything is ruined and there has been extensive smoke damage throughout the building. Despite everything we are now due to open on Monday minus just one classroom. We have prepared a mobile classroom for the children."
Worsening sectarian attacks and declining community relations in Co Antrim, where there have been some 45 sectarian attacks since June 1st, as well as the ongoing loyalist paramilitary feud, will be addressed by the Policing Board today. It meets in public session in Ballymena later this morning and Chief Constable Hugh Orde is expected to comment on the situation.
Supt Terry Shevlin said yesterday: "Over the past few weeks we have received additional resources following other incidents and the latest new resources will enable me to mount static police operations at vulnerable targets, such as Catholic schools."
Bishop of Down and Connor Dr Patrick Walsh last night called on elected representatives in Ballymena to stand together and to follow their words of condemnation with joint political action. "In this serious situation, party political interests must be set aside and all must be seen to stand for what is for the good of the entire community," he said.
Mr Corey said he was hoping that "with the summer over things will soon calm down. We've had fabulous support from other churches and others across the divide. It's been truly heart-lifting".
Martin Kearney, principal of St Mary's, said of the firebombing of his school: "This is quite a setback. It is such a diversion. We were coming in today to talk about curriculum and planning and all the important issues, but now we face this."
SDLP and Sinn Féin representatives fear that local sectarianism will endure. SDLP councillor Declan O'Loan said: "Sectarian embers are always here and I must say I'm pessimistic about the underlying tensions." He described the recent anti-Catholic violence as "the extreme end of a sense of unionist angst".
Sinn Féin Assembly member Philip McGuigan accused the PSNI of failing the Catholic people of the area. "They are not on top of this serious situation after more than four months."
He said he hoped "that things might settle down a little after this Saturday's large loyalist band parade, which signals the end of the marching season."
Sinn Féin is seeking a meeting with Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern to discuss loyalist violence.
Northern Education Minister Angela Smith said: "To attack a primary school with petrol bombs is completely unacceptable . . . Everyone in a position of responsibility in our society needs to make it clear that these attacks are totally unacceptable."
Dr Ian Paisley, the North Antrim MP and DUP leader, said he condemned sectarianism but that his word made no difference to loyalists involved in violence.
"These attacks ought to cease," he said. "But I am afraid that I would have no influence whatsoever with the people that are doing this".
In a joint statement the UUP Assembly members David McNarry and the Rev Robert Coulter said: "We condemn these attacks in the strongest possible way."