Irish News, 25.8.2001

‘Lifelong friends’ driven apart

By Andrea McKernon

A CATHOLIC couple, attacked 23 times this year, and their Protestant neighbour have told of their horror after a double pipe-bomb attack on their homes.
Catholic couple, Dolores and Dermot Hoy, said they were moving out of their north Belfast home after an explosion ripped through their conservatory on Thursday night.
Seconds earlier, Protestant neighbour Norah Meekin narrowly escaped injury when a pipe bomb was thrown into her garden.
Loyalist splinter group, the Red Hand Defenders claimed responsibility for the attacks and warned that their bombing campaign would continue.
Police said it was a miracle no-one was hurt in the attack at Deerpark Parade which straddles the loyalist Glenbryn estate.
The first device went off at around 10.50pm just feet from where Mrs Meekin was standing.
The second exploded outside Mr and Mrs Hoy’s conservatory, shattering windows and leaving a crater in the ground.
Mrs Meekin fought back tears as she described the “horrific moment” she heard the pipe bomb go off close to her and then became aware that another had exploded in her neighbours’ yard.
“They lobbed it across and it exploded in my garden as I was hanging out the washing. I honestly believe that they saw me,” she said.
The Protestant mother of three described how she crawled on her hands and knees into the street where she was helped by neighbours as the second device went off.
Mrs Hoy (61) said: “We heard this almighty bang and we immediately got up and looked out the back where we saw that the conservatory had been devastated by an explosion.
“Then we found out they had already thrown a pipe bomb at Norah.”
Her husband displayed a dossier detailing 23 stoning attacks on his home this year. He claimed the missiles were thrown from Ballysillan playing fields by loyalists from the Glenbryn estate.
And as the shocked couple sat in the wreckage of their home where they have lived for the past 35 years, they revealed they had made the “heartbreaking” decision to leave the area and their neighbour who had been a lifelong friend.
Mrs Hoy said: “We are proud to have Protestant friends and they are lovely people.
“When I was in hospital when the children were young, Norah came and looked after them.
“Our children grew up together, played together, went out to pubs together and are still the closest of friends.”
Mr Hoy (63) said he and his wife were full of regret at having to leave their “wonderful” neighbours and hit out at those responsible.
“Protestants would not do this sort of thing. These are people who are not of any Christian religion. They are people who are ingrained with hatred,” he said.
Bishop of Down and Connor Donal McKeown, visited the families yesterday to offer his support.
North Belfast MP and assembly member Nigel Dodds last night condemned the attacks.
The DUP represetntative said: “There can be no justification for attacks which threaten people’s lives and people’s property.
“The recent attacks have only served to further deepen divisions in Northern Ireland and serve no positive purpose.”