MUM WHO SELLS IRA DOLLS
A GANG attacked a man in his home after setting fire to a car outside.
The 39-year-old victim had gone to his door to challenge the group when they hurled bricks through the windows of the house in New Edinburgh Road, Uddingston.
The man suffered serious injuries in the incident and was taken to Monklands Hospital where his condition was described as stable.
The gang behind the “brazen” A MUM has sparked outrage – by selling toy IRA dolls armed with mini-assault rifles.
Mariea Hughes, 46, charges £100 each for the terrorinspired playthings.
The Cumbernauld mum sells the “tasteless figurines” from the home she shares with her husband and son.
The dolls are dressed in black plastic macs, sunglasses, black ties and berets.
Their little outfits come complete with beret badges that commemorate the 1916 Easter Rising in Dublin, synonymous with IRA fighters and their supporters when they attended funerals and marches at the height of The Troubles.
They have been ordered by a number of politicians in the Republic of Ireland, according to Mariea.
She last night defended what she’s doing, saying the dolls are light-hearted and that she has “no regrets” about selling them.
However, there was anger from groups who represent families of those killed and maimed by the IRA.
The Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation For Peace – a charity set up after the 1993 IRA bombing in Warrington, Cheshire – said the doll would upset victims of The Troubles.
Its chief executive Nick Taylor said: “Symbolism plays an important part in the politics of Northern Ireland and has been a source of debate and conflict whether that be to do with flags, parades, language or even colours.
“If we are to build a lasting peace, then we need to be sensitive to those affected by the past, and anyone producing a doll that associates with violence and holds a gun is attack escaped following Friday’s attack at 11pm.
It is not known how many men were involved or in which direction they made off in afterwards.
Police said two other cars were damaged but no-one else was injured.
Appealing for witnesses, Det Con Christopher Norton, of Wishaw CID, said the men are thought to have entered the area in a white Ford Transit van. bound to cause controversy and upset amongst victims and survivors.”
One mum, whose daughter stumbled across the dolls while searching for a Barbie, branded them as “tasteless”.
Mariea’s Facebook page says she started custom making the toys earlier this year.
She claims the dolls aren’t cheap at £100 each because materials are expensive – and the guns are hard to get.
She warned customers they would have to wait until May for a doll.
She posted: “Can take orders for more but will be May before they go into production as there are outstanding orders to be completed first.”
He said: “This was a brazen and targeted attack which has resulted in one man being taken to hospital.
“No-one else was injured, however local residents were left shocked by the nature of this violent incident.
“Windows were damaged, a car was set ablaze and the victim was left seriously injured as a result of the attack.
“It is imperative that we trace
Earlier this month, Mariea – who shared a picture of her meeting Sinn Fein’s former deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland Martin McGuinness on the day he died – said she had so far made 10 dolls, all of them to order and even joked the venture could make her a “millionaire”.
We approached Mariea at her home last week to ask her if she thought it was appropriate to sell the dolls.
She said: “I’m selling a limited number of them to my pals. I’m not mass producing them. I had to include the gun because not to do so would not be a fair reflection of the time.
“I’m not sorry
about it.” the men responsible. We have been assessing available CCTV and are speaking to local residents.
“We understand that the men may have entered the area in a white Ford Transit van.
“Local residents and passing motorists will have witnessed or heard this disturbance.
“I would ask anyone with information to contact detectives at Wishaw.”