Sinn Féin has denied that provisional republicans are implicated in more than 100 arson attacks in the Ballymurphy area of west Belfast that follow from the murder of Gerard Devlin five weeks ago.
Six people - three women, one man and two children - narrowly escaped with their lives after the latest attack in the early hours of yesterday morning on members of the Notorantonio family. Their home on Whitecliff Parade in Ballymurphy was badly damaged in the petrol-bomb attack.
Members of the Notorantonios have blamed the IRA for this arson attack, while local SDLP Assembly member Alex Attwood also said that "certain republican elements" were involved.
The incidents stem from the stabbing to death after a fight of Mr Devlin in Whitecliff Parade, a dispute that goes back to a long-running feud involving the Notorantonios and the victim.
On Tuesday, Christopher Notorantonio, who lives in the house targeted early yesterday but was not in the building at the time, was freed on bail. He is one of four people charged in connection with Mr Devlin's murder.
A lawyer for Mr Notorantonio said there had been more than 100 attacks in the Ballymurphy area since Mr Devlin was murdered, most of them on members of the wider Notorantonio family.
Victor Notorantonio yesterday blamed the IRA for most of the attacks. Mr Attwood added: "Let's be clear, there are certain republican elements around this issue and their agenda will end up being hostile to the best interests of the community. People need now to be very cautious or these elements will abuse their power."
Local Sinn Féin Assembly member Michael Ferguson said he "repudiated" the charges. He said he and other Sinn Féin and community activists were actively engaged in trying to defuse tensions in the area.
