Family terrified as home targeted in racist attack
BBC
Shinu Mathew has thanked neighbours who rallied around his family after the graffiti appeared
A man has said his young family have been left terrified after racist graffiti was daubed on their home in Ballykelly.
Shinu Mathew, who lives with his wife and two children, aged seven and four, told BBC News NI that they considered leaving the area following the incident but neighbours had persuaded them to stay.
Graffiti was painted on three homes in Fort Drive and Forest Drive in the County Londnderry village between 03:00 and 04:00 BST on Tuesday.
Police said it was being treated as a hate crime.
Those targeted included an elderly woman and another couple, a Sinn Féin councillor said.
Graffiti appeared on properties with the words ‘ Irish first’ sprayed in paint
“When I hear a car pass at night I now go to the window to check,” Mr Mathew said.
He said police assured him there would be an increased officer presence in the area following the incident.
One neighbour, who did not want to give their name, said they were disgusted by what happened to the family, describing it as “totally outrageous”.
“They are a lovely family and the wains all play together,” the neighbour said.
“There was about 20 of us out with thinners and bleach trying to clean it [the graffiti] all up for them.”
Sinn Féin councillor Dermot Nicholl says the community is in shock
Sinn Féin councillor Dermot Nicholl condemned the attacks and said the whole community was shocked.
He praised neighbours who rallied around to help.
“It’s not nice for anyone and these types of attacks aren’t warranted at all,” Mr Nicholl said.
“Ballykelly is a small commuter village, it is a relatively quiet area and people have been really shocked by this.”
‘Not warranted and not needed’
“I don’t understand this – it doesn’t make any sense – it’s not warranted and not needed,” Mr Nicholl said.
“People from different cultures all live in this area, they contribute to this community and have a right to live here.”
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