A nurse whose car was set on fire in an arson attack said the culprit "could have killed" her.
Emergency services were called to the home of Aontú Newry representative Sharon Loughran in the early hours of Wednesday, July 12, after her car was set on fire beside her home in the Damolly Village area of Newry.
Ms Loughran, who is a paediatric nurse in Daisy Hill Hospital, said she was still trying to process what had happened to her home.
READ MORE: One person taken to hospital after 'falling from bonfire' in Newtownards
"Just after 3am I awoke to the smell and sound of an inferno beside my house," she said.
"I looked out the window to see my car parked in my driveway consumed by flames. The heat was so much that the facia, pipes, electrics, and widows to my house have all been damaged by melting. My house is significantly damaged. I don’t have electricity and can’t use the water.
"This was a horrendous action that very easily could have set my house on fire also. The arsonist that set this fire could have killed me. That this would happen to any one in 2023 is incredible.
"I cannot for the life of me understand why they are targeting me. I had no involvement in politics before joining Aontú. I am paediatric nurse in Daisy Hill Hospital. I love my job and I am delighted to work for both communities. The only reason I got involved in politics was to stop the closure of key services in Daisy Hill Hospital and Aontú are very active on hospital campaigns around the country.
"I also cant understand why they would target Aontú. Aontú is only 4 years old. We have no history or baggage from the past at all. Indeed we have many Catholic and Protestant members. My house was also daubed with sectarian UDA graffiti during the local elections. But this is a radical escalation of that intimidation.
"I am calling on the PSNI to provide the necessary protection that people like me can go about our lives without living in fear. I am also calling on community leaders in Newry to bring about what influence to stop this shocking violence on the 12th of July. I want to continue to work for my community. I have a human right to do so in peace.".
Inspector Browne said: “We received a report that a car had been set alight at the victim’s property in the early hours of this morning. The suspect is described as approximately 5’10, of slim build, was wearing a light coloured top and light coloured bottoms. The exterior of the house also sustained extensive smoke damage. We are treating this as a sectarian hate crime.
“This has obviously been very distressing for the victim and our investigation is underway and we are appealing to anyone who may have been in the area or who may have captured CCTV footage to contact us on 101 quoting reference number 305 12/07/23.”
Alternatively, you can submit a report online using our non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/. You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/.
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.
