Sectarian attack on car

The man, who does wish to be named, was travelling from his Waterside home to visit relatives in the Fountain estate at around 6pm. He said he had gone into Wapping Lane a matter of metres when his car was attacked by a barrage of missiles from a group of teenagers.

The vehicle sustained damage to a backlight, its roof, back windscreen and bonnet in the incident-as a result leaving the man substantially put of pocket.

But, of more importance to the driver is the fact that his 10-year-old daughter was in the backseat of the car and his wife was due to give birth on the day the incident took place.

Speaking to the Sentinel, the man said: "I managed to travel about three-quarters of the way up Wapping Lane and then stopped the car and got out.

"They then subjected me to a load of sectarian abuse, shouting things like 'Orange b......s' and so on. And things like 'c'mon on down here and see what happens'.

"There were around seven or eight of them aged about 14 or 15. It was broad daylight and they weren't even attempting to mask their faces."

The victim then reported the attack to the PSNI.

He continued: "I don't know what these guys are thinking of. Had my wife gone into labour early the new-born baby could have been in a child seat in the back of the car. As it was, my ten-year-old daughter was there. She could have been showered in glass and badly hurt.

"There is no call for this in this day and age. It's bad enough they caused the damage, but then to start the sectarian abuse. I'm not from the Fountain, I could have been anybody, they just assumed that because I was driving there, I was a Protestant."

The victim confirmed that he hoped CCTV footage from cameras in the area will help to identify the culprits.

"If these people are caught we will press charges and get them to pay for it. As it stands the whole car will have to be re-sprayed and it'll cost around 1,000." A police spokeswoman confirmed to the Sentinel: "Police received a report of damage caused to a car parked in the Wapping Lane area just before 6pm on Sunday (26th). Enquiries are ongoing. "