A WEST Belfast grandmother said she will not be intimidated out of her home after a number of shots were fired through her front door and kitchen window on Saturday night. Julia Stokes, a settled member of the Travelling community from Mill Race off the Monagh By-Pass, told the Andersonstown News that the attack wasn’t linked, as has been claimed, to any feud between her family and any other Traveller family.
“I nor none of my family have ever been in trouble in our lives,” she said.
“My home was attacked around 6.40pm on Saturday night. My three-year-old grandson was standing under the kitchen window when it shattered around him. I screamed to my other children to stay in their rooms because I didn’t want anyone else getting hurt.
“The police came to my door on Friday and said I was under threat. Why didn’t they give me extra protection? I’m still in shock from what happened but I just want me and my family to be left alone. I’ve lived here for the past three years and I won’t be intimated into leaving.”
Local SDLP Councillor Tim Attwood described the incident as “sickening and unjustifiable”.
“It is so fortunate that no-one was physically injured or killed by these mindless thugs, although undoubtedly this has been extremely traumatic for the victims.
“No child should ever be subjected to terror or intimidation in West Belfast or anywhere in our society.”
A spokesperson for the PSNI said they are appealing to anyone who witnessed the incident or who has any information to contact CID at Grosvenor Road Police Station on 0845 600 8000.”
“My three-year-old grandson was standing under the kitchen window when it shattered around him. I screamed to my other children to stay in their rooms”
