Disabled man and sister living in fear after early morning attack on their home

A Co Derry woman woman has spoken of her fear after the home she shares with her disabled brother was attacked.

The woman, from Drumsurn and who does not want to be named, said she was woken from her sleep at approximately 12.30am on Monday last after thugs ‘thumped’ the windows of the Beech Road property.

She said the living room window and the windows of both her and her brother’s bedrooms were targeted.

She said she was left terrified when trees at the front of the property were set alight two hours later.

“I was in bed sleeping when I heard a really loud bang that sounded like someone was thumping my bedroom window,” said the woman.

“They also banged the front window and went around to the back of the house and did the same to my brother’s bedroom window.

“I phoned the police but I did manage to get back to sleep some time later but after 3 o’clock I was woken by a brightness in the room.

“They had set the trees surrounding the garden on fire. Firefighters were here at around3.30am trying to put out the fire. It has been really scary.”

The house was also targeted in 2006.

“This is the second time that this has happened to us and I just can’t understand why?” the woman said.

“My brother isn’t well. He needs a zimmer frame to get around the house and this has left him very shaken. We are both very frightened by what has happened. Me and my brother don’t bother with anybody so I just can’t understand it,” she said.

Sinn Féin councillor Brenda Chivers, who lives in the village, condemned the attack.

She said the arson ‘could have led to a serious injury or worse’.