Bishop Denounces Church Attacks in Northern Ireland

The Catholic Bishop of Down and Connor has denounced the loyalist attacks on two Catholic Churches in Ballymena, Northern Ireland.

Dr Patrick Walsh delivered Mass to the congregations of the two damaged churches, All Saints Church and Our Lady’s Church in Harryville, during which he called any such attacks on places of worship 'desecration’.

Members of the Ballymena Presbyterian church, High Kirk, expressed their solidarity with members of the All Saints Church by handing out roses as they entered Mass.

The All Saints Church and Our Lady in Harryville were smeared with paint and sectarian graffiti on the door and walls. Members of the High Kirk also helped with the clear-up operation, a gesture which the All Saints priest, Fr Paul Symonds called “an absolutely lovely gesture, one of sheer love.”

Chief Inspector Stephen Martin warned early last week that if the “madness” did not stop, someone would be killed, after a number of Catholic pubs were also targeted and the remains of several petrol bombs found.

Mr Martin strongly denounced the attacks on church property as being “absolutely disgusting and disgraceful”.

Police patrols have subsequently been stepped up in the area.