A LEADING member of the Women's Coalition was hit by a stone while attending a peace vigil outside the Catholic church in Harryville, Ballymena, which has been under loyalist siege for six months.
Ms Monica McWilliams was standing in the grounds of Our Lady's Church on Saturday night with other women peace campaigners when she was struck on the head by the stone.
"We were standing quietly, some of the women were holding candles," she said. "Suddenly I was hit on the back of the head by a rock which came from over the roof of the church."
About loo loyalists took part in the protest as Catholic worshippers gathered for evening Mass.
Two people were arrested for questioning about riotous and disorderly behaviour.
Meanwhile, a 19 year old man suffered multiple fractures to his face in a so called punishment attack in east Belfast early yesterday. Three masked men, one armed with a handgun and another with a hammer, forced their way into his home in Meekon Street.
In west Belfast, a group of men beat a 46 year old man with hurling sticks in another assault early yesterday in Slemish Way. He suffered multiple fractures to his right leg and minor facial injuries.
Two tourist offices in Co Down were badly damaged in arson attacks early yesterday. The main tourist centre on the sea front at Newcastle sustained thousands of pounds worth of damage, while extensive damaged was caused to the tourist office in Banbridge.