Elderly couple suffer another attack at Dunmurry home

Trevor George, 83, has compiled a 14-page list of attacks and says he has been targeted because he is in a mixed marriage.

This follows an attack last Sunday afternoon when his wife Alice, who is in her 70s, was subjected to sectarian abuse after returning from church.

She then had a wet sofa cushion which had been on the ground thrown at her. It struck her on the head and shoulder.

“She staggered and only for the car she’d have fallen, which would have been very serious because she’s had major surgery on both hips,” Mr George said.

Incidents in the past have including a petrol bombing and paint bombs thrown by masked men.

“It has tailed off in recent years - it’s not as bad as it was in 2002 or 2003, they were the really bad years,” Mr George said. “But we’re still getting four or five every year.

“It’s an ongoing thing and you never know the minute when it’s going to happen.”

Mr George said there had also been thefts from his property and he felt nothing was being done to stop the attacks.

“They’ve stolen a boat - a dingy - they’ve stolen a motorised go-kart belonging to my son,” he said.

“It’s a real rogue element that’s doing all this. I don’t understand why the police can’t stop this.”

In a statement about the incident on Sunday, police said: “A woman in her 70s was left shaken after youths shouted sectarian abuse at her in Dunmurry on 22 April.

“The lady was also struck by a piece of foam thrown by the youths during the incident at Ballybog Road.

“Police are currently investigating and would encourage anyone who can identify the youths to contact them on 0845 600 8000.”,

The Mayor of Lisburn Councillor Brian Heading has condemned the attacks on the George family. He said: “It is shocking that Mr and Mrs George have had to put up with such a sustained sequence of attacks.

“This is a grievous state of affairs which no couple, just trying to live their lives as part of their local community, should have to live with.

“I hope to visit Mr and Mrs George shortly in my capacity as Mayor to listen to their concerns, but in the meantime I call on anyone with information on the attacks to pass it on to the PSNI immediately.”

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