Shots fired at Paisley's church in Belfast

More than £1,000 in damage has been caused to the Rev Ian Paisley's Martyrs' Memorial church in south Belfast.

More than £1,000 in damage has been caused to the Rev Ian Paisley's Martyrs' Memorial church in south Belfast.

Shots were fired at the windows of the Free Presbyterian church on Ravenhill Road on Friday. Sinn Féin condemned the attack.

Dr Paisley said the weekend attack was only the latest in a series of incidents involving this and other churches.

He said the police had been "totally unable" to safeguard the building.

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"These attacks have now become a very serious matter. Today we counted 14 windows shot through. One of these was a heavy security window in my office. So far the police have been totally unable to safeguard the building or prevent these attacks. The press have failed to report them.

"On one of these occasions paint was thrown at the gates. Obscene lettering was placed on the pillars of the church."

South Belfast Assembly member Alex Maskey of Sinn Féin said: "Whatever the motivation, attacks on churches are unacceptable and unwanted in this society.

"Those responsible for this attack on the Free Presbyterian Church on the Ravenhill Road need to reflect long and hard on their actions."

He added: "Those of us in political and community leadership need to make it very clear that this sort of activity must end and end now."