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13/12/2010
PUP Man 'Won't Be Silenced By Bomb'
The latest in a long-running series of pipe-bomb attacks in Antrim has left a local politician defiant.
In an attack since condemned by the Alliance party's local MLA and Stormont Justice Minister, David Ford, a pipe bomb exploded at the house of Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) member Ken Wilkinson.
No one was injured in the attack, which happened at 3am on Sunday when the bomb - left on a windowsill - went off.
Mr Wilkinson, who lives alone, said he was lucky he was not injured: "The front windows were done, there is damage to the inside of the house, the fascia board and soffit on the outside - they will all have to be replaced," he said, on the incident - that happened in the Milltown Road area of Antrim.
Justice Minister David Ford said there had been a number of similar incidents in the town recently and that they "must end".
"They are achieving nothing except to bring disruption and misery to the streets on Antrim," he added.
David Ford MLA said: "These attacks must end, they are achieving nothing except to bring disruption and misery to the streets on Antrim. The local population is extremely worried where the next in this series of pipe bomb attacks is going to happen.
"I am only glad that no one was injured in this attack. This must have been a very traumatic experience for those inside the house at the time of the attack."
Local Alliance Cllr Neil Kelly said: "The people behind these attacks are just a small minority who do not represent the views of the vast majority of Antrim who all oppose this violence on our streets. Everybody else has moved on from the troubles, they should do the same."
The victim, Mr Wilkinson, believes he was targeted because he has criticised attacks such as these in the past: "I'm outspoken on many issues, with recent pipe bombs like this in the area, and I'm outspoken against drugs."
He vowed the attack would not intimidate him. "This will not stop me speaking out, if people think this will silence me they're mistaken.
"If people think this is their way of quietening me down, they have made a big mistake."
(BMcC/GK)
In an attack since condemned by the Alliance party's local MLA and Stormont Justice Minister, David Ford, a pipe bomb exploded at the house of Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) member Ken Wilkinson.
No one was injured in the attack, which happened at 3am on Sunday when the bomb - left on a windowsill - went off.
Mr Wilkinson, who lives alone, said he was lucky he was not injured: "The front windows were done, there is damage to the inside of the house, the fascia board and soffit on the outside - they will all have to be replaced," he said, on the incident - that happened in the Milltown Road area of Antrim.
Justice Minister David Ford said there had been a number of similar incidents in the town recently and that they "must end".
"They are achieving nothing except to bring disruption and misery to the streets on Antrim," he added.
David Ford MLA said: "These attacks must end, they are achieving nothing except to bring disruption and misery to the streets on Antrim. The local population is extremely worried where the next in this series of pipe bomb attacks is going to happen.
"I am only glad that no one was injured in this attack. This must have been a very traumatic experience for those inside the house at the time of the attack."
Local Alliance Cllr Neil Kelly said: "The people behind these attacks are just a small minority who do not represent the views of the vast majority of Antrim who all oppose this violence on our streets. Everybody else has moved on from the troubles, they should do the same."
The victim, Mr Wilkinson, believes he was targeted because he has criticised attacks such as these in the past: "I'm outspoken on many issues, with recent pipe bombs like this in the area, and I'm outspoken against drugs."
He vowed the attack would not intimidate him. "This will not stop me speaking out, if people think this will silence me they're mistaken.
"If people think this is their way of quietening me down, they have made a big mistake."
(BMcC/GK)
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