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Paisley's Church Attacked
Ian Paisley's "Martyrs Memorial" Free Presbyterian Church in east Belfast was attacked according to a report yesterday evening, as vandals caused an estimated £1,000 worth of damage. The caretaker discovered 12 windows had been smashed at the church on the Ravenhill Road.
Paisley claimed that one of these was a high-security window in his office. He also said that some months ago, £11,000 worth of damage was done to the church and that it has come under continual attack since, while the police have been completely unable to safeguard it, and that these incidents went unreported in the press. This last claim would seem to be backed up by the lack of "see also" links on the BBC website report, which would normally link to older related stories.
I'm no fan of Ian Paisley but there can be no excuse for attacking a church. I completely disagree with the Free Presbyterian hardline christian fundamentalism, but attacking a place of worship is unjustifiable - and that is true for a Free Presbyterian Church in Belfast no more and no less than a Catholic Chapel in Ballymena.