Children 'traumatised and screaming' after sectarian attack

A family have said they will be forced to leave their home after being targeted in a sectarian attack that left their three children traumatised.

Windows were smashed and the front of the house in Londonderry was daubed with paint on Monday evening.

Chloe Rutherford believes their home was attacked because of her partner's religion. Three young children live in the house, the eldest of whom is a wheelchair user and has complex medical needs

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said it was treating the incident as a sectarian-motivated hate crime.

Rutherford described the people who attacked their Ebrington Oaks home as cowards.

Her partner, Darian Moore, said the children were screaming after the house was attacked, with glass left all over the living room.

"My neighbours had to come and actually lift the children out of the house," Rutherford said.

"It was only when the police came that we actually realised that the car out the front, which actually belongs to my father, had its window put in as well."

Rutherford said the people behind the attack have no regard for her family or their children's safety.

"I think it is just cowardly behaviour."

She said her partner has been verbally abused by a group of people in recent days.

"Only Sunday past they were here shouting about his religion," she said.

"We are here four years, we have never bothered nobody and it's just scandalous."

She said they are now reluctantly having to leave their specially-adapted home out of fear for their children.

"This home is especially adapted for our older boy... we have a built lift, lower benches, a wet room.

"I know we are not going going to get another house adapted for him, or else won't get one for a very long time, so now, as a result, we are going to have to move somewhere where we will have to likely carry him up and down the stairs.

"For their safety we have to leave, I wouldn't settle because I would be afraid of the children's safety."

Moore said the couple would be leaving the house.

"Last night I was doing the washing up and the kids were running around the hall and the youngest one was with me and I heard a thump and the two wains [children] ran screaming to me," Moore said.

"I went and looked out the living room and realised it was all smashed, then when I went to the front door it was paint bombed.

"Fear and shock for the wain's sake.

"They were traumatised and they were screaming.

"Our youngest, he is in palliative care, he is also autistic as well, he was screaming and it took a good wee while to settle him down."

Moore believes their house was attacked on Monday evening because of his religion and said the couple have also been targeted in the past.

"This is all over being a Catholic living in a Protestant area," Moore said.

"We come from a family that don't bother anybody and we have just been targeted and I put it down to what I am and what my children are.

"I haven't even been sleeping at nights because it has been going on for over a week and they have been at the house three times."

Moore appealed to those behind the attack to think of what their actions are doing to their children.

"Why target a young couple in a mixed relationship? Why target them based on their religion? Especially ones who have young children in the house.

"It's shocking in this day and age."

The SDLP MLA, Mark H Durkan, described it as a "disgraceful sectarian attack" and said no one should have to endure this kind of intimidation.

"This family simply wanted to live their lives in peace and should never have been targeted in this way," he said.

"I have contacted the family to offer my support and to make clear that those responsible do not represent this community."

DUP councillor Niree McMorris condemned the incident and said no family should be put through such an ordeal.

"This behaviour is disgraceful and unacceptable," McMorris said in a post on social media.

"We should not be seeing people being intimidated out of their homes just because of their religion.

"I am sickened that this family have to move out on top of everything else they are dealing with."