Loyalists target Portadown justice campaigner

Loyalist paramilitaries tried to petrol-bomb the mother of one of their murder victims into silence, she claimed today.

Loyalist paramilitaries tried to petrol-bomb the mother of one of their murder victims into silence, she claimed today.

Ann Robb, whose teenage son Andrew was killed five years ago, fled her burning house in Portadown, Co Armagh after a new attack.

The 45-year-old had taken sleeping tablets and was only roused by her frantic husband Trevor.

"I was out for the count and never heard the petrol bomb coming through the window. All I remember was Trevor shouting 'Ann get out of the house'.

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"As I made my way down the stair carpet was on fire. Trevor was running about with saucepans of water dousing the flames. If it wasn't for him being there last night I wouldn't be here now because I never heard a thing."

It's all the UVF doing this. They know I haven't stood down and I won't back down in trying to get justice for Andrew
Justice campaigner Ann Robb

Two petrol bombs exploded at Mrs Robb's house on Festival Road in the Killycomaine Estate late on Sunday night. One was thrown through the window of a utility room, causing smoke damage.

A second device scorched a garage door after being thrown against it. Although badly shaken, neither Mrs Robb or her husband were injured.

She claimed the UVF has carried out a series of attacks in the estate against those not aligned to the organisation. The paramilitaries targeted her because of a campaign for justice over the killing of her son Andrew, Mrs Robb alleged.

The 19-year-old and his friend, David McIlwaine (18) were brutally murdered in February 2000.  A UVF gang stabbed both victims to death after they left a nightclub in Tandragee, Co Armagh. Their bodies were found dumped in an isolated laneway.

Although the killings came at the height of a violent feud with the rival Loyalist Volunteer Force, police and the victims' families said neither were connected to paramilitaries.

"It's all the UVF doing this," insisted Mrs Robb.

"They know I haven't stood down and I won't back down in trying to get justice for Andrew. I will hit back until I get these people taken off the streets and locked up. They don't like it."

Police probing the attack urged anyone with information to contact detectives in Lurgan.

PA