Hate mob forces Belfast man to flee home for second time in two years

Graffiti was daubed on the walls of the man’s property in Ardenlee Avenue in Belfast two years after the UDA torched his car in a reckless attack which almost spread to a nearby oil tank.

This time offensive graffiti was removed almost immediately but a protest was staged outside the man’s house on a nightly basis – upsetting neighbours and even causing mayhem during Ulster’s United Rugby Championship match against Cardiff last month.

Placards naming the man and his address, with wild claims he was being “protected” by the PSNI, were left near his home on Sunday night.

The PSNI confirmed they had attended several protests and are investigating reports of “harassment” and “criminal damage”.

The Sunday World reported how the man fled the area when he was first targeted in June 2022 after a UDA-organised protest which saw similar nightly protests and eggs chucked at his home.

The man, who is in his 50s, recently returned to the family home which he had lived in for decades with his parents until they passed away.

But last month the house was put up for sale after he made the call to clear out as a wave of fresh protests seemed set to continue.

The police attended protests , but it is understand protesters were told that the man had agreed to sell up and thus it was time for them to quit their nightly vigils.

Neighbours once again were furious at the protests, organised by loyalists – many of whom don’t live in the area.

“This was a hate mob targeting a man who has lived here all his life,” said one neighbour who didn’t want to be identified.

“It’s a disgrace what they have put the people round there through. It was every night last week and they disturbed the traffic trying to get around the Ulster rugby match.”

Locals in the normally quiet area of Ardenlee Avenue were said to be terrified two years ago when sinister figures linked to the UDA petrol-bombed the man’s car.

A loud explosion was followed by fears the blaze could spread to an oil tank a few yards away, and down the entire row of oil tanks in the street.

The fire burned right through the backyard door of a neighbouring property which had no connection to the man being targeted.

“There’s an oil tank just behind the wall where the car was petrol bombed, so it’s by luck that the explosion wasn’t even worse,” said one resident, who didn’t want to be identified.

“There are a lot of pensioners living in the area and they are genuinely scared.”

A group of people started lobbing big boxes of eggs at his windows and door during that protest.

“Most of them are coming from the nearby Cregagh estate but they have also been arriving in taxis from the Shankill too,” we were told by one local.

A police spokesperson said: “Police are aware of anti-social behaviour in the Ardenlee Avenue area of east Belfast last week, and were in attendance at a number of protests.

“An investigation is now under way into reports of harassment and criminal damage at a property. Anyone with any information is asked to call 101 and quote reference RM24024655.

“A report can also be submitted online via www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/”