A Catholic mother-of-two, driven from her north Belfast home by a nationalist mob who believed she was Protestant, has described those behind the attack as "animals".
Catherine O'Hara (20), from Andersonstown, and her partner, 21-year-old Gavin Smyth, also a Catholic and from the Cliftonville area, watched in horror as the gang attacked their home in Vandyck Gardens, off the Whitewell Road, in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Mr Smyth received stitches to his chin following the ordeal which began after the couple – who have a newborn baby girl as well as a two-year-old daughter – arrived home with three friends after a night out.
"There was a knock at the door around 2.20am," Ms O'Hara said.
"When I opened it, there were three young fellas and a girl who said they heard there was people from (the predominantly Protestant) White City living in the house."
Mr Smyth told the group to leave. However, Ms O'Hara claimed that a crowd of up to 20 gathered outside the house minutes later and shouted abuse.
"Gavin and his friend held the door closed. And then a sofa, which we put out for the landlord, was thrown through the living room window. The windows in Gavin's car were smashed and it was set on fire," she said.
"The windows at the front of the house were smashed and Gavin was hit on the chin with a stone. The glass landed everywhere and in the baby's Moses basket. They got round the back of the house and smashed the window of my two-year-old daughter's room. Thank God she wasn't there."
Ms O'Hara said she believed the mob thought they were a Protestant couple.
"I heard someone shout 'This is our area'. I wouldn't have minded if someone had have come and asked us. They are cowards."
The mother-of-two said she was "gutted" by the damage but thankful that her children are safe.
"I can't sleep thinking about what could have happened," she said.
"My mum had offered to come over to my house and babysit but thank God the children went to her. It was absolutely terrifying, I was crying my eyes out. I thought they were going to kill us. My friends were trying to hide in kitchen cupboards."
SDLP councillor for north Belfast Alban Maginness described the incident as "absolutely horrific".
"It is a disgrace that this couple were treated in such a fashion. It is an example of sectarian bigotry at its worst and should be condemned by all right-thinking people," he said.
North Belfast Sinn Féin councillor Danny Lavery said it had been "unjustified and completely wrong".
Police were last night believed to be questioning a person in connection with the incident.
