A well-known west Belfast family is appealing to the Taoiseach to intervene
following an arson attack on their Co Donegal holiday home allegedly by the
Provisional IRA.
Gardai are investigating the fire at the Notorantonios' bungalow on the
Church Road in Glenties. The family said substantial smoke and scorch
damage was caused after petrol was poured into the house and set alight.
It follows around 40 attacks this month on the family's homes and businesses
in west Belfast which they claim is part of an orchestrated campaign by the
Provisional IRA.
Gardai have yet to establish a motive for the attack. Supt Eugene McGovern
said forensic experts were examining material removed from the scene on
Thursday, and an incident room had been set up in Glenties Garda station.
Victor Notorantonio said: "It's very sinister that this pogram against us
has spread across the Border. The house in Glenties was a refuge we used
whenever one of the houses in Belfast was attacked.
"Thank God my son, his wife and kids had just left it. We are at our wits'
end. It's only a matter of time before somebody is killed in a petrol bomb
attack. We have met a Department of Foreign Affairs' representative in
Belfast. We need Bertie Ahern to use his influence with Sinn Féin to stop
this."
A Department of Foreign Affairs' official in Belfast confirmed that
discussions had taken place with Victor Notorantonio. A report of his
allegations has been sent to the Taoiseach's office.
The violence has its roots in a three-year dispute between the Notorantonios
and a neighbouring Ballymurphy family, the Devlins. Earlier this month,
Gerard Devlin (39) was stabbed to death. Four members of the Notorantonios
have been charged with murder. They are denying the charges.
The Notorantonios allege the IRA's Greater Ballymurphy commander ordered the
entire extended family, of around 100 members, to leave the area. "The
violence is non-stop because we haven't moved out," Notorantonio said.
"I condemn Gerard Devlin's murder wholeheartedly. The actions of some
members of our family has been disgraceful but we all shouldn't be held
responsible."
Notorantonio said the Provisional IRA was directly involved in some attacks,
while others were carried out by non-paramilitaries with the IRA's approval
or encouragement. "I don't believe ordinary people from Ballymurphy
travelled to Glenties to burn our house," he said.
Supt McGovern said gardai were treating the matter seriously: "Considerable
fire and smoke damage was caused to the front of the house. It's a very
quiet area of Glenties where arson attacks certainly aren't common. This is
a very open investigation.
"We are following all lines of inquiry including the possibility the fire is
linked to events in Belfast. We would appeal to anyone who witnessed it, or
has any information, to contact the incident room at Glenties Garda station
on 074 9551108."
The Notorantonios are one of west Belfast's most prominent families. In
1987, British intelligence directed the UDA to murder Notorantonio's father,
Francisco, in order to save the life of its secret agent in the IRA, Freddie
Scappaticci (Stakeknife).
