AN SDLP councillor whose home was attacked early yesterday is considering resigning if his party leader, Mr John Hume, does not support him in his present difficulties.
A concrete block was hurled through the bedroom window of Cllr Hugh Lewsley's home in Twinbrook, on the outskirts of west Belfast, as his family lay sleeping.
The attack, which is widely believed to have been carried out by republicans, happened hours after Mr Lewsley appeared on a Channel 4 documentary condemning "punishment" beatings. Sinn Fein has said that the attack was "wrong" and that republicans were not involved.
Mr Lewsley, a member of Lisburn Council in Co Antrim, was badly beaten in a "punishment" attack last year. He is a vehement critic of the IRA.
Two masked men heaved a breeze block into the house at Glasvey Walk in Twinbrook at 3.10 am. yesterday. It smashed through Mr Lewsley's bedroom window, landing in the bed beside him. He was showered with glass.
His two sons, Christopher (11) and Cormac (14), were asleep in an adjoining room. "It was fortunate that nobody was hurt," Mr Lewsley said. "It was very frightening for the boys. I believe that republicans were responsible.
They will never stop me speaking out against the `punishment' gangs. I don't want to give in to these thugs but the safety of my family comes first.
If I don't get support from the leadership of my party; if they don't come out and condemn this situation, then I will resign my seat as an SDLP councillor. I would not stand as an independent. I would leave politics altogether."
Mr Lewsley was severely beaten by eight men in an attack last year. He said they were known republicans. He suffered a fractured cheekbone and serious cuts and bruising.
He said he was angry that within 24 hours, Mr Hume accepted a statement from the Sinn Fein chairman, Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, that republicans were not involved. "It seems as though I have been left out on a limb by the leadership of my party to suffer this sort of behaviour from republicans," he said.
"No one seems to be giving me any help in ending this." He appealed to Mr Hume to "engage in a process" with the Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, to stop the attacks.
The former SDLP chairman, Mr Mark Durkan, said that Mr Lewsley's criticisms of the party leadership were misplaced.
The SDLP MP for west Belfast, Dr Joe Hendron, said: "For anyone to point the finger at John Hume is ridiculous. No one has stood against violence in Northern Ireland more than him. Nobody's home has been attacked more often than his. John has been outstandingly supportive of elected councillors whose homes have been attacked and who have been physically assaulted."
Dr Hendron described Mrs Lewsley as "a very courageous councillor" whom he hoped would remain in the SDLP. He believed republicans were involved in the attacks and said he had raised last year's incident with senior Sinn Fein figures.
The attack was condemned bye the anti paramilitary group, Outcry.
Last year, the Northern Ireland Office paid for bullet proof glass and other security measures to be installed at Mr Lewsley's home, but only on the ground floor.
"The thugs obviously knew the bedroom windows weren't secure, the SDLP councillor said. He will be meeting RUC and NIO representatives to discuss taking further protective measures.