Thugs force Sally, 82, out of her home in 'gutless' attack

Two alco-pop bottles were thrown through 82-year-old Sally Ward’s bedroom window at Toberwine Street in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Mrs Ward, who was asleep until the first missile smashed through the glass, narrowly escaped being hit by the second as she tried to reach a light switch.

Her daughter, Jeanette Briody, has blamed a gang of teeenagers for the attack and claims it is not the first time they have wreaked havoc in the village.

Sinn Fein’s Oliver McMullan, meanwhile, called those responsible “gutless” and urged community leaders to take a stand against what he called “the rise in anti-social behaviour in Glenarm”.

Mrs Briody told the Larne Times: “My mum was sleeping when the first bottle came through the window at about 12.15am.

“As soon as she got up to put on the lamp the second bottle came flying through. If she had been standing, it would have hit her on the head.”

Mrs Ward was still “in a state of shock” when police who were called to the scene accompanied her to her daughter’s house.

“She didn’t have a phone to ring anybody because she only moved in there a couple of weeks ago while her own house is being renovated,” said Mrs Briody who claimed the youths responsible for the attack caused annoyance “nearly every weekend”.

She said: “They’re shouting and screaming and squealing and drinking although they’re underage and they attack anybody who is vulnerable.”

Cllr McMullan, a member of Moyle District Council and Sinn Fein spokesman in East Antrim, agreed: “The kind of people who would do this to an 82-year-old woman are gutless.”

He added: “They are terrorising this poor woman and it’s a terrible indictment on society.”

Cllr McMullan, who said he would seek an urgent meeting police chiefs on Tuesday, praised neighbours who had been very supportive of Mrs Ward, but he asked: “Where are the community leaders in Glenarm? I have been calling for action for some time on the rise in anti-social behaviour and not one of them has stepped up to the plate to condemn it or to use whatever influence they have to try and put a stop to it.”

The PSNI has appealed for anyone with information about the attack to contact the police in Larne by ringing 0845 600 8000 or use the confidential Crimestoppers number 0800 555 111.

n Meanwhile, Cllr McMullan revealed that on Monday he attended what he believed to be “something of an historic meeting” at the Larne council headquarters, where he and Sinn Fein colleagues discussed anti-social behaviour problems with council officials, the PSNI and the Housing Executive.

He said he repeated his call for a play park at the north end of Carnlough and for measures to resolve differences between youths in the two villages which have spilled over into violence recently.

“The council chief executive, Geraldine McGahey, made the point and I had to agree with her that people need to get involved in locality groups that would feed into the new community safety partnerships,” he said. “It is something I will be encouraging people in the area to follow up.”

The annual issue of flags and emblems in the villages was also discussed. “I have been promised a programme will be implemented for the young people and a further meeting is to take place in February,” said Cllr McMullan.

“We’re trying to get young people away from the flags issue. There are outside influences at work.

“My own view is that flags have their place and it’s not flying on a pole all year round until they’re turned into rags and that applies regardless of what flag it is.”

Following what he called a “very courteous and very useful” meeting, Cllr McMullan said he had received an assurance that Sinn Fein would be consulted in the forthcoming equality impact assessment survey on the issue of council-supplied bunting in Larne at the Twelfth.

“I have been told that I will be consulted on it and that a letter has been drawn up, ready to be posted shortly,” he said.