A mum says she is having to sofa surf after two thugs came to her house and hurled 'sectarian abuse' while banging the windows and doors at her house.
The young mother was inside the property in Lurgan with her 18-month year old son on Sunday, April 30, when the two men appeared, reports Belfast Live. She says she was just putting the boy to bed when she heard the terrifying banging and is now seeking a move out of the area after police advised her that it would be for the best.
She explained: "I had been lying watching films with my son and had just put him to bed when it all started. I had heard the group outside in the street prior but didn't think anything of it until I heard the banging on my doors and windows.
"It was a terrifying thing for us to go through and I have never had anything like this happen to me before. After the police came they advised that it could be safer to leave the area and I definitely won't be back to that area ever again.
"The Housing Executive have told me there are no suitable properties for me to go to at the minute so I am having to sofa surf for a while until one becomes available but they have told me that I am a priority. It is just horrendous that people would put us through something as terrible as this.
"My son and I have been just trying to live our lives and mind our own business and shouldn't have to face intimidation like this."
Cops have launched a probe into the alleged hate crime, and say a 34-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted criminal damage. The man has been bailed to allow for further enquiries.
A spokesperson said: "An investigation into the report of a hate crime at Ashleigh Crescent in Lurgan on Sunday April 30 is ongoing. A 34-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted criminal damage and later bailed to allow for further enquiries. There are no further details at present."
Their has been widespread condemnation across the community.
Upper Bann Alliance MLA Eoin Tennyson said: "Footage of a young mother facing sectarian intimidation in her own home in Lurgan is sickening and chilling. Women ought to be safe in their homes and able to live free of harassment. The cancerous sectarianism on display in the video must be unequivocally condemned by us all."
Upper Bann DUP MP Carla Lockhart said: "I have been made aware of a video on social media showing a single mum being verbally abused. This is reprehensible and I would urge the occupant to report this to the PSNI. They are best placed to deal with this. This behaviour is not welcome in Lurgan or anywhere else."
UUP leader Doug Beattie said: "This is absolutely appalling. I shall be speaking to the PSNI to ask what they are doing in relation to this clearly sectarian and threatening behaviour."
Lurgan SDLP councillor Ciaran Toman said: "I have reached out after being tagged in footage of a young mum facing sectarian intimidation in her own home in Lurgan.
"We gathered in Lurgan Park not so long ago for a rally to end violence against women and girls, yet here we have grown men targeting a female and her young child."
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