Dissident republicans were today being blamed for an arson attack on the home of a Northern Ireland government minister while his wife and children were in the building.
Two cars were set alight outside the home of Sinn Féin Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy in the early hours of today.
The Newry Armagh MP said scorch damage was caused to windows in his home in Camlough in south Armagh before fire crews succeeded in bringing the blaze under control.
The building was also vandalised with paint and it is understood Mr Murphy’s wife and two children were in the building at the time of the attack.
Mr Murphy said: “This was a cowardly attack on my family home. While there was damage to two cars and a risk that the house would be set alight thankfully no one was injured.
“I want to pay tribute to the response of the Fire Service who ensured that the house did not catch fire.
“I will not be deflected from representing the needs of local people or from representing Sinn Féin.”
The area has been sealed-off by police examining the scene.
Dissident republicans have attacked the homes of senior Sinn Féin members and vandalised a number of party offices over recent months.
The renegade groups, which oppose the peace process, killed two soldiers and a police officer in gun attacks in Northern Ireland in March.
They have also threatened the lives of Sinn Féin members.
The deputy First Minister Martin McGuiness was warned by police of a plot by dissidents to kill him.
Meanwhile Mr Murphy was recently also targeted in a failed bomb attack planned by loyalist paramilitaries.
Today Mr Murphy said: “Sinn Féin members have been attacked and killed in the past by those opposed to progress and the rights of nationalists and republicans.”
He said of the latest attack: “They will not succeed in undermining the progress we are making or the rights of any Irish citizen living in this part of Ireland.”
PA