Lenny
08-23-2007, 12:56 AM
Protestants Targeted by Romanist Mob
Numerous innocent protestants injured by Catholic thugs!
A leading member of a Newtownstewart Loyalist band, whose bus was targeted in an attack as it returned from an Apprentice Boys parade in Derry on Saturday, has described the incident as 'purely sectarian'.
Four people were injured when Roman Catholic stone-throwers at Strabane's bypass smashed the window of the bus ferrying members of the Red Hand Defenders Flute Band home from the annual gathering.
One of the injured had to be treated at Altnagelvin Hospital after sustaining an eye injury during the incident.
The band master of the Red Hand Defenders, who did not wish to be identified, told the Ulster Herald the incident was extremely traumatic for those onboard. He said, "We were travelling along the bypass close to Carlton Drive at around 5.30pm on Saturday when we heard the bang. It was like a gunshot and suddenly a side window came in.
"One of the female flag carriers was in the seat at the time, but thankfully she had her back to the window, otherwise she would have been very seriously injured. Four of our band members were struck by flying glass and had to be treated for their injuries, the rest of us were badly shaken up," he explained.
The spokesperson revealed that the attack was the third on the bus in as many years, and as a result some of the younger members have refused to travel by bus again.
"This has to be purely sectarian," he said. "It was the third year in a row we were targeted so whoever was responsible must have been waiting for us. Whatever their motivation, I can honestly say we were not displaying any emblems nor did we provoke this attack in anyway," he added.
The bus attack was the second along Strabane's bypass in less than a fortnight. A group of American tourists were also targetted recently as they returned along the same route from a day out in Donegal.
http://protestant-gazette.blogspot.com/2007/08/protestants-targeted-by-romanist-mob.html
Numerous innocent protestants injured by Catholic thugs!
A leading member of a Newtownstewart Loyalist band, whose bus was targeted in an attack as it returned from an Apprentice Boys parade in Derry on Saturday, has described the incident as 'purely sectarian'.
Four people were injured when Roman Catholic stone-throwers at Strabane's bypass smashed the window of the bus ferrying members of the Red Hand Defenders Flute Band home from the annual gathering.
One of the injured had to be treated at Altnagelvin Hospital after sustaining an eye injury during the incident.
The band master of the Red Hand Defenders, who did not wish to be identified, told the Ulster Herald the incident was extremely traumatic for those onboard. He said, "We were travelling along the bypass close to Carlton Drive at around 5.30pm on Saturday when we heard the bang. It was like a gunshot and suddenly a side window came in.
"One of the female flag carriers was in the seat at the time, but thankfully she had her back to the window, otherwise she would have been very seriously injured. Four of our band members were struck by flying glass and had to be treated for their injuries, the rest of us were badly shaken up," he explained.
The spokesperson revealed that the attack was the third on the bus in as many years, and as a result some of the younger members have refused to travel by bus again.
"This has to be purely sectarian," he said. "It was the third year in a row we were targeted so whoever was responsible must have been waiting for us. Whatever their motivation, I can honestly say we were not displaying any emblems nor did we provoke this attack in anyway," he added.
The bus attack was the second along Strabane's bypass in less than a fortnight. A group of American tourists were also targetted recently as they returned along the same route from a day out in Donegal.
http://protestant-gazette.blogspot.com/2007/08/protestants-targeted-by-romanist-mob.html