Anger at BNP leaflet drop in Antrim

British National Party anti-immigration leaflets are being distributed by loyalists on the north Antrim coast, it was claimed today.

The leaflet drop - allegedly by a group including a known paramilitary leader - followed a recent incident in which a car belonging to Bulgarians was set alight in Portballintrae. That prompted local residents to stage an anti-racist rally.

Sinn Féin councillor Billy Leonard branded the timing of the loyalist leafleting as “sinister” and said there was anger about it among the local population. He said: “Those who approached me are disgusted at this action. They say they know that one of the people who strutted up and down the streets of Portballintrae is a well known loyalist paramilitary from the nearby Bushmills area.”

Mr Leonard added: “The leaflet is an official BNP publication and talks of immigrants as ”health tourist spongers“ and how ”white people“ in Britain will become a minority.”

The timing of the leafleting was sinister given the recent car burning, he said. “We can only assume that this daylight distribution of leaflets was intended as a message to migrant workers who undoubtedly would have received a copy through their letter boxes.”

The action could only be an attempt to raise temperatures in the area and was totally unacceptable, he said.

“The vast majority of locals see the migrant worker community as people who work hard and in many cases take jobs that local people will not take.”

The Irish Times

Swastikas daubed on couple's home

A County Antrim man newly married to an African nurse says he is living in fear after racist slogans and swastikas were painted on their home. Paul Morton's car was also damaged during the incident in Portballintrae near Bushmills on Wednesday night.

Mr Morton and his wife had just moved into the house in July, and police are treating the attack as a hate crime. He told the BBC's Evening Extra that he was scared that they may come back and carry out more serious attacks.

"They could throw things through your windows or pour stuff through your letterbox," he said. "You never know what's going to happen - it has come as a total shock."

The attackers poured paint stripper on their car. It happened at about 0100 BST. His wife was not at home at the time, as she attends nursing college in Dublin. Mr Morton said they have not experienced any animosity in the village since the wedding.

"I'm born and bred in Bushmills and it's a complete shock - you always hear about these things happening but never expect it to happen to you," he said. "To think it's maybe somebody you've known all your life who did it makes it even worse."

Police have appealed for information.

BBC