Coleraine Ulster Unionist Councillor William McCandless has called on the Police to take swift and effective action following yet another sectarian assault in the Heights area at the weekend.
Councillor McCandless said:
“I was shocked to learn that this weekend brought news of yet another assault in the Heights area of Coleraine, the third in just over four weeks.
“There is a very strong suspicion in the local area that these attacks are sectarian in nature, given that all the victims have been from the Protestant community.
“I would like to commend the community for the restraint which has been shown, and call on the Police to step up patrols in the Heights area particularly at weekends when these attacks have taken place.
“I have spoken to a number of local residents and have been made aware of a worrying lack of confidence that sufficient police resources have been made available to adequately police the area and protect the community. This situation is not acceptable and must be addressed.
“People should be able to walk their own streets without fear of attack and I am extremely concerned that if this situation is not urgently addressed, someone will be killed. The Police must take swift and effective action to ensure that those who are behind these attacks and other criminal and anti-social activity are taken off the streets, brought before the courts and put away where they cannot inflict themselves on the rest of society.”