Andersontown News, 3.9.2001 www.irelandclick.com

MOTHER-OF-THREE ESCAPES LOYALIST

Story by:Alison O’Brien

Ardoyne woman, 33, beaten by assailants

An Ardoyne mother-of-three says she is lucky to be alive after she fought off would-be loyalist abductors in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Thirty-three year old Ann Kelly was walking home from a friend’s house at the junction of Jamaica Street and Alliance Avenue when she noticed a car with four occupants driving very slowly twowrds her from the direction of the loyalist Glenbryn Estate.

The car, believed to be a red Ford Sierra, passed the victim, drove to the top of Alliance Avenue, and stopped before making a return journey past a terrifed Ms Kelly.

When the car turned to come past her for a third time, Ann, who was in a state of panic, started to walk faster.

“I heard the car approach from behind and then the engine stopped.
“The next thing I knew there was a hand over my mouth and two men were dragging me towards the car. I was struggling and trying to scream. One attacker punched me in the face and about the head meanwhile one of those still in the car kept saying ‘Shut that fenian bitch up, keep her quiet’.

“I just kept struggling and put my feet against the door of the car to stop them from getting me in.
“I sunk my teeth into one of the men’s hands anddrew blood.

“He let go of me and I was able to somehow wrestle myself free from the other man. I scrambled to my feet and ran towards my house. The men didn’t pursue me but jumped into the car which sped off.”

When the badly shaken mother got to her own home she barricaded herself in until the RUC arrived.

“The CID took samples of DNA from my mouth and jacket in the hope of identifying one of my attackers,” said Ann.
“My attackers were out to get any Catholic, they didn’t care who. The more I thought about it the more I thank God I got away. They could have raped me or worse.”

Ann who has three children Sean (12), Ryan (9) and Roshia-Marie (5) is too terrified to stay in her home.

“They saw which house I ran into. They know where I live. I am defintely going to move. I couldn’t stay around here, especially when I am on my own with three kids.”

Sinn Féin councillor for the area Eoin O’Broin said the attack was a sign of increasing tensions in north Belfast.

“There is increasing tension in anticipation of the return of children to Holy Cross Primary School on Monday.

“It seems no accident that the level of violence has risen over the weekend.
“Whether or not loyalists think they can disrupt talks by this violence I don’t know. But it is clear that this is part of UDA/UUF inspired violence against isolated areas and people within the nationalist community.”

He said nationalist community workers were trying hard to restore normality to the area “despite loyalist provocation”.

Cllr O’Broin also referred to what he called “another very serious attack on residents” which happened in Westland Gardens on Saturday morning.

“At about 1.30am two men were attacked by a group of six loyalists with iron bars and hammers. Residents who came to their aid were surrounded by a group of around 30 loyalists who only moved on when the RUC appeared on the scene.”

Journalist:Alison O'Brien