Police in south Derry said yesterday that they believed loyalist paramilitary violence was on the increase in the area following an arson attack early yesterday morning on the home of a Catholic family in the village of Desertmartin.
It was the fifth time the householder's home has been attacked since he started to build it for his family of five three years ago.
In a previous attack on his home, the householder, who does not wish to be named, said the building was badly fire damaged. "But it's nothing like the damage today. My home is simply destroyed, burnt down. We were supposed to move into it next month and the family and myself were looking forward to it. I worked at the house myself and in a way it was like a labour of love.
"I don't know what we're going to do now. It seems like it was petrol-bombed. In the last fire attacks, gas cylinders and burning tyres were used to set fire to the house. I have the best of neighbours and this is a good community but obviously there's people intent on causing trouble", he said.
Meanwhile Chief Insp John Lindsay, who is investigating the arson attack, said he believed it was a sectarian attack carried out by loyalist paramilitaries. "Of that I feel quite sure. This man's home was attacked by loyalist paramilitaries and it is my belief that they are also responsible for the previous attacks. It has to be said there has been an increase in Loyalist paramilitary activities in the south Derry area recently.
"Last weekend we made a number of arrests in Magherafelt. We have had a number of cases which we investigated recently, including an arson attack on St John's Chapel in Magherafelt, and we recently made arrests in relation to an illegal road checkpoint put up by loyalists.
"There are loyalist paramilitaries in south Derry and although some positive work has been done with them, there remains an undercurrent of sectarianism and of sectarian incidents which have got to stop", said Chief Insp Lindsay.
Councillor Joe McBride (SDLP) said the family whose home was destroyed yesterday morning were both angry and disgusted. "Right from the very start when it was being built, there were attacks on it and this morning's arson attack is the culmination of those appalling incidents and the community here feels disgusted and angry at what has happened yet again to this hardworking and decent family."