Dad and son lucky to be alive after petrol bombing
A MAN has told how he and his sons are “lucky to be alive” after a petrol bomb attack on his Ballymena home.
Noel Campbell said despite the terror his family was put through, he is determined to remain in the property.
He had been upstairs at his rented terraced home at Edward Street in the Harryville area, and one of his sons was sitting in the living room, just before midnight on Thursday when the attack happened.
Mr Campbell described how a petrol bomb came through the living room window, landing just a few feet from his son.
The 59-year-old said he and the 24-year-old were the only people in the house.
He continued: “Thankfully, it didn’t ignite fully and my son was able to get water from the kitchen and put out the flames.”
Mr Campbell added: “I’m almost 60 and have had five heart attacks.
“We are lucky to be alive, we could have been killed”.
He said blue paint had been lobbed at the house a month ago but, before that, there had been no incidents since he moved into the property in 2015. He said he did not know why his home had been targeted but added: “I’m not moving for anybody”.
Originally from Larne, he said he left the town after his house was attacked a number of times.
Mr Campbell, once referred to in a court as “notorious”, has over 300 criminal convictions, but he said on Friday at his home: “I did my time in jail”.
In 2008 he escaped from Larne Courthouse. At the time a PSNI spokesman said: “We can confirm that the police helicopter assisted local officers in a search for a man who had absconded from the town courthouse on Friday. The man later returned to the courthouse.”
At a court sitting in Ballymena earlier this year, it was heard that Mr Campbell was confronted by a man who was alleged to have threatened him.
Regarding the petrol bomb attack, detectives in Ballymena are appealing for witnesses.
Detective Sergeant Pete Crothers said: “Police received a report just before midnight that the living room window of the property had been smashed and a petrol bomb thrown into the living room, causing smoke damage to the curtains. The occupants of the house managed to extinguish the fire.
“Another petrol bomb was located, smashed outside the property. A bedroom window was also smashed.
“Fortunately, no one was injured during the incident.
“We are appealing to anyone who was in the Edward Street area around the time of the incident and saw any suspicious activity or vehicles in the area to contact detectives at Ballymena on the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference number 1563 28/09/17.
“Alternatively, information can also be given anonymously through the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”