A family targeted in a sectarian attack in Derry have spoken of the ‘absolute terror’ they felt as their home and car were damaged on Monday evening.
The family of five have been forced out of their home, which has been specially kitted out for their eldest child who is receiving palliative care. The attack saw a window smashed at their home and two windows smashed in their car as well as paint thrown at their car and front door.
The attack happened in the waterside area, at a home in the Ebrington Oaks social housing development. The development has only been recently occupied.
The homes in the area are fairly new, and house people from both catholic and protestant backgrounds.
Three young children were in the house at the time with Father Darian Moore (33).
Mr Moore usually works evenings but was in the house with the children. He was with his youngest 1-year-old son Ruaidhrí in the kitchen. His eldest, Tiernan (5) was playing with two-year-old Fiadh, when they heard a loud bang and came running into the kitchen.
Speaking to The Irish News following the attack, Mr Moore said the children came into him screaming in fear.
He said: “The wee ones started screaming ‘what was that what was that’. They were really scared; they’re only five and two. The kids haven’t been back to house since.
“My eldest is getting tested for autism, he has a condition called pulmonary hypertension which is not curable. His granny is away to Australia; he’s used to her being here and he’s getting tested for autism so he’s already a bit out of routine. So, we already have all that stress and then this here happens.”
Chloe Rutherford (28) and Darian Moore (33)
His partner Chloe Rutherford (28) is protestant, with Darian and the children being Catholic. He said he knows it was a sectarian attack as the threats started over a week ago.
He added: “They’ve been around the house since last Sunday. There were verbal threats made that they were coming to get my car, they’d call me a Fenian b******.
“Since last Sunday, I’ve been up every night in fear. We didn’t know if there would be a petrol bomb or something. I’m worried there will be a delayed reaction from Ruaidhrí because he does understand what happened, but he’s not mentioned it.
“It’s absolutely terrifying. I would fully understand if we were out terrorising or whatever but between Chloe and we go to work, look after the wee ones, and go to work. I do night shifts she does day shifts. The people in this community they’ve nothing bad to say about us. We keep ourselves to ourselves.
“I’ve been round here for four years, and we’ve never had a day of bother. This house was adapted for Tiarnan’s disabilities. So, we are going to have to move now and find something this what we have now.”