Scottish Catholic Observer

St Mary Star of the Sea church (above, in happier times) was scorched in the attack with paint bombs also thrown at the doorway.

The attack was reported on Sunday, just as parishioners were attending mass, and horrified the parish priest.

“It is upsetting, particularly for the older members of the congregation,” parish priest Fr Anthony Alexander said.

“I just can’t work out why it is happening – I can’t guess why they are doing it and I find it hard to understand why people would vandalise somewhere, let alone a place of worship.”

The church has been targeted before, most recently enduring a bomb hoax that took place before Easter causing road closures and distress to residents.

Sinn Fein councillor Gerry O’Reilly described the attack as “despicable and completely sectarian” and urged unionists to end similar attacks.

“Local people are very upset at this latest attack,” Councillor O’Reilly said. “There is no justification for such attacks on any place of worship.”

Councillor O’Reilly’s opinion was echoed by Nigel Dodds, the Democratic Unionist Party MP for North Belfast.

“Sectarian attacks against churches, Orange Halls or other venues are hate crimes which must be stopped,” he said.

“Whoever is carrying out these disgraceful attacks must be caught and brought to justice.”