Nationalist candidate in Newry whose house was hit by arsonists condemns new attack on a home in the city

Aontu member Sharon Loughran was reacting to a security alert at a house in Drumgullion Avenue on New Year’s Day, which police yesterday said involved a viable bomb.

Her car was torched at her own house in Damolly Village in the city last July 12. The culprits have not been caught.

Drumgullion Avenue is only about a third-of-a-mile away from Damolly Village as the crow flies, just across the Newry River / Canal.

This is at least the third serious incident in Drumgullion Avenue in the last few months.

On December 12, a man in a property there had been asleep in bed just before 10pm when he was awoken by two men with hatchets. He was uninjured.

And on October 18, two petrol bombs were thrown at a property on the street, causing a small fire. Again, no-one was hurt.

When it comes to the most recent incident in Drumgullion Avenue, the PSNI said they got a report shortly before 2.50pm on Monday that a suspicious object had been left in the area.

This morning it was revealed that this object was indeed a real device, not a hoax.

It has been taken away for forensic examination.

A number of homes were evacuated during the security operation.

The PSNI said: “Enquiries are continuing to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting reference number 1310 of 01/01/24.”

Ms Loughran, who stood unsuccessfully as a council candidate in Newry and still campaigns with anti-abortion nationalist party Aontu, told the News Letter: “I thought these days were over, that this level of violence had finished.

"I don’t understand the thinking behind what people are doing and why they do it – it’s very sad that we should go back to this.

"But then maybe if we had a working Stormont we could do something about it.”

She said the crime had not been solved and she still does not know the motivation behind it.

Newry Sinn Fein councillor Geraldine Kearns said residents of the latest Drumgullion Avenue attack were allowed back home at about midnight on Monday-into-Tuesday.

“I can’t praise enough those who aided those residents who had to leave their homes due to this incident,” she said.

"My thanks especially to all involved with the Meadow & Armagh Road Community Association/ Whitegates community centre for your help.”

Although the perpetrators are unknown, the shadow of suspicion is likely to fall across dissident republicans.

The so-called New IRA in particular are known to have a presence in the city.

The political party Saoradh is sometimes described as being the political wing of the New IRA – although the party denies speaking for the group.

Saoradh was contacted by the News Letter to ask about the attack, but it had not responded at time of writing.

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