The house where a pipe bomb was found in north Belfast last night is owned by a brother of the RUC Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan, it emerged today.
|
|
Mr Peter Mandelson
|
The device was discovered in the garden of the house on the Cavehill Road and taken away for forensic examination. It was unoccupied at the time.
Meanwhile, the Northern Secretary Mr Peter Mandelson was in Larne today meeting victims of recent pipe bomb attacks in the town.
He described the recent spate of incidents as “disgraceful and unacceptable" and said the entire community must stand up to the people behind the bombings.
He was speaking after a Catholic family was targeted in a pipe bomb attack in Coleraine, Co Derry, blamed on rogue elements in the Loyalist paramilitary group the Ulster Defence Association.
Mr Mandelson, also councillors in Larne, said he had spent the morning meeting families and victims who had “a real fear about the situation".
“It is not just the families and victims of this violence that it is affecting, it is the whole of Larne, the whole of the community. This is blighting this town and people have got to decide whether they are going to allow to be created here a sectarian ghetto in Larne or a prosperous port which is open to all," he said.
Mr Mandelson said he had discussed the situation with the Mr Flanagan and would be meeting police again later today.
PA