Calls for protection for NI churches following 450 attacks in three years

There have been 445 crimes recorded as criminal damage to religious buildings, churchyards or cemeteries across the last three years.

This is equivalent to a crime against a place of worship happening almost every other day.

Some of those attacked included Saintfield Road Presbyterian Church which suffered two arson attacks in July 2016, while the Sacred Heart Church in Ballyclare was attacked with paint on Easter Sunday this year.

Both the Belfast Synagogue and Belfast Islamic Centre have also suffered property damage in the last 10 years.

The figures were obtained from the PSNI by the Christian Access Research and Education (Care NI) using the Freedom of Information Act.

Care NI has written to the leaders of all the political parties asking for more support to be made available to religious buildings.

It has also urged them to make a specific manifesto commitment to set up an initiative like the Place Of Worship fund which helps protect religious buildings in England and Wales.

Dr Alistair McCracken, clerk of Session, Saintfield Road Presbyterian Church said they would support any Government measures to protect churches.

“Following two arson attacks on our church in July 2016 the initial response was one of anger and frustration quickly followed by asking ‘Why’,” he said.

“There then came a sort of grieving period as we grappled with the practicalities of how to…