Two Catholic priests escaped an arson attack early yesterday which police are treating as attempted murder.
The attack was mounted on the parochial house in Newcastle, Co Down, just before 5 a.m.
One of the two priests, Father Liam Blayney, was woken by the sound of breaking glass in the kitchen below his bedroom in the seafront house. Four incendiary devices were thrown into the kitchen along with what is thought to have been three gas canisters, and possibly lighter-fuel aerosols. These exploded, causing a fire and substantial smoke damage.
Father Blayney alerted Father Albert McNally, who was asleep in another part of the house, and they managed to put out the fire with extinguishers as emergency services arrived.
Property belonging to the parish of Maghera has been subject to continued vandalism, thought to be sectarian, over the past seven months. The Church of Mary of the Assumption, beside the parochial house, has been attacked three times since Christmas, with windows, including stained glass, being systematically smashed, statues being covered in paint and Loyalist Volunteer Force slogans being daubed on the walls.
Closed-circuit television cameras were installed before Easter in an effort to stem the trouble.
The area is not known for sectarian trouble on anything like the scale seen elsewhere in the North, but tensions do exist and vandalism is a recurring problem.
Neither priest was hurt, but both were shaken by the incident.
Father McNally said: "This has been a sad day, and there should be no retaliation. It's time now just to get the place cleaned up and to get on with life." He added: "This is not the time to make any big decisions."
Father Blayney added: "Many homes across Northern Ireland have suffered this - homes with children. This is to be utterly condemned." Churchmen from other denominations called at the house yesterday to express support.
PSNI Chief Supt Robert Robinson said: "It gives all the appearance of a premeditated attack, but thankfully unsuccessful attempt at murder."
Local SDLP MP Mr Eddie McGrady said it was a "horrendous event. It was really a murder attempt, a double murder attempt, and must be treated as such."