A sectarian attack on a 12-year-old schoolboy in a Co Antrim village was last night (Friday) linked to continuing loyalist death threats against a Catholic family in the area.
The boy and his 13-year-old friend were walking through Stoneyford shortly before 6.30pm on Thursday when three men attacked them.
While one of the boys managed to run off, the other was attacked and threatened.
His attackers made off in a dark-coloured car.
It last night emerged that the attackers' intended victim was the 13-year-old son of a Catholic family who earlier this month were warned by the PSNI that they were to be shot by loyalists.
Thursday night's incident is the latest in a series of sectarian attacks on the Catholic family, which has already forced them to leave one house in the village.
However the Catholic family, who were too afraid to be identified, have now demanded an urgent meeting with Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde over claims that the loyalist orchestrating the attacks is being protected from prosecution.
"Before Thursday night it was threats and attacks on our homes but now they are trying to abduct my son and his friends," the 13-year-old's father said.
"We have made countless complaints to the police and have installed all sorts of security around our home.
"This thug has already been charged with threatening my family but I was convinced to drop the charges against him to try and improve community relations in the village.
"The ordinary police on the ground want this guy locked up as much as we do.
"He's already managed to intimidate countless Catholic families from this village.
"He gets arrested but always seems to get released without charge."
Calling for increased security for Catholic families in Stoneyford, Sinn Féin assembly member Paul Butler said: "Sinn Féin is calling on the PSNI to ensure nationalists in the village are protected.
"The nationalist population of Stoneyford need reassurance that they can live free from sectarian intimidation.
"The PSNI gave an undertaking that they wouldn't tolerate people breaking the law.
"However, they seem to be powerless in preventing this sectarian campaign."
SDLP councillor Brian Heading condemned the attack on the Catholic schoolboy.
"People who are involved in improving community relations will probably see this incident as a setback," he said.
"But I don't think this will deter those looking to improve community relations in Stoneyford.
"It should concern every right-thinking person that an assault should take place on a child."
A PSNI spokeswoman appealed for anyone with information about the attack to contact police.
The spokeswoman said there were ongoing meetings with residents in Stoneyford to bring an end to the attacks.
