Polish family to leave estate after their car is burned out

A Polish family who had their car burnt out in a sectarian attack in Ballymena intend leaving the area, just days after moving in, a local MLA has said.

The arson attack happened in the Drumtara estate in the early hours of Tuesday, March 15.The

Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service were tasked to the estate after it was discovered that the family car had been set on fire close to houses shortly before 2.15am.

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Condemning the attack, SDLP North Antrim MLA Declan O’Loan said it was “totally unacceptable” that the family now felt under pressure to leave the area.

He said: “I understand that this family had just moved into the Drumtara Estate and their children recently had their first days at local Catholic schools and their uniform may well have marked them out as Catholics in the Drumtara Estate.

“I totally condemn this attack. Unfortunately, the family has now expressed a wish to leave their home and that is totally unacceptable that they should be forced to do so”.

The Assemblyman said he was “in no doubt” that they had moved to Northern Ireland and to Ballymena to make a better life for their children.

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He said: “They were living, working and sending their children to the local school and helping make up the fabric of our new society. However, those who made up the old society have sought to impress their tired and futile opinions on them.

“The majority of people in Ballymena are hard-working and law abiding. They will be horrified to learn of this family’s fate. They will be doubly horrified to see the damage it does their local area in the eyes of the wider world.

“I totally condemn this cowardly act. It had the potential to cause more hurt than the fear and intimidation it did cause. An innocent family could have been hurt or worse. Instead, an innocent family will have to move and find a better place to raise their family.

“It’s shocking that this can happen in Ballymena. We must be shocked by this. We cannot let this become a norm or just another incident,” said Mr O’Loan who urged anybody with any information about the attack to respond to the appeal from Ballymena PSNI for help with their investigation.