Catholic toddler 'traumatised' after hammer attack on home
'I can’t help that the girl I love is a Catholic...we just want to live in peace'
By Adrian Rutherford
Wednesday, 12 October 2011
The parents of a toddler who was injured after a gang of thugs armed with hammers attacked their home have described how she has been left traumatised.
Little Alisha McAllister suffered a cut arm when the house at Derwent Street in east Belfast was targeted by around 15 masked men.
Police are treating the attack as sectarian.
The incident happened around 8pm on Monday when two-year-old Alisha was at home with her father, Chris Smallwood.
His pregnant girlfriend, Stacey McAllister, heard the terrifying attack on her mobile phone.
Mr Smallwood, who is a Protestant, believes the family was singled out because his girlfriend is Catholic.
“I just want them to leave us alone,†he told the Belfast Telegraph.
“I can’t help that the girl I love is a Catholic. I have a child to her, there is another one on the way, we just want to live in peace.†Mr Smallwood (25) described how he was sitting with his daughter when the gang arrived.
“They all came into the garden, lined up at the front window and pelted the house with bricks. We have double-glazing but they still managed to put them right through,†he added.
“One of the guys put his head through the window and shouted I was a ‘Fenian-loving b******’ and had 24 hours to get out.â€
Mr Smallwood said Alisha has been left traumatised by the incident. “She got a cut to her arm and is just in total shock,†he added.
“I’ve no idea what effect it will have on her. I hope it isn’t too bad and she won’t remember it for too long.â€
Miss McAllister, who is 19 and over five months’ pregnant, was visiting her mother and listened on the phone as the attack unfolded.
“I heard everything,†she said. “I didn’t know what was happening, I was just thinking the worst, thinking he was getting a bad beating. I was really concerned about Alisha. The glass went everywhere — into her hair and all.â€
Mr Smallwood said he was grateful the thugs did not attack him in front of his daughter.
“I’m just thankful they didn’t come in and beat me with hammers,†he added. “Who do these people think they are?â€
He said the family would not return to their Derwent Street home.
Yesterday people living in the area spoke of their shock and anger at the attack.
Sarah Thompson, one of several elderly residents in the neighbourhood, said it caused distress in the community.
“You get annoyed when this type of thing happens,†she said.
“A lot of senior citizens live nearby and to have the like of that coming into your area is just not right.â€
Police have appealed for anyone with information to contact them on 0845 600 8000.
realtalk I crushed the last catholic I exchanged pleasantries with ~1 week ago (wife of a painter doing work on my parents hovel) and it was so freaking easy (this is almost verbatim)
blah blah so WOW hun, the such and such room looks amazing. GOD BLESSED THIS ROOM FOR SURE. We are BLESSED, so BLESSED
Oh, I couldn't help but hear you thanking God because you feel a job well done equates to some divine blessing. are you religious?
Yes, Catholic
Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. (she twitches)
How long have you gone to church?
oh all my life, I have been a DEVOUT catholic my entire life
Oh
may I ask why?
--stammers--uh what do you mean why? I love God and care about my soul, that's why.
Oh, so you practice catholicism because you are convinced without it your existential soul will be damned to hell for all eternity or some rubbish yes? (nods)
Out of curiosity, why do you think this?
It's the truth.
Says who? Who told or rather, who has PROVEN this to be true to you?
(I start walking away) I won't comment further, but I would like to point out one thing- my soul never needed saving until I met a christian who seemed to know better. I reckon you can make your own decisions in life, clearly you think for yourself and all that.
Right?
Well you have a point. I never thought of it that way....
Of course not, we cannot normally see what is HIDDEN from plain view unless pointed out.
Well I don't know, you do have a point about being mislead by people. But that's what the bible is for, it is uncorruptable
I literally stop making a sandwich, turn and ask her to repeat herself as I couldn't hear etc.
The bible is uncorruptable by humans, it is the literal word of God.
I take it you would have no problems continuing your faith/practice etc JUST on faith in the good book yes? the good BLACK book I might add..
(nods)
And you've been around the bible all your life yadda yadda (nods) so tell me this, for my own curiosity- have you ever actually READ the bible?
She cocks her head a bit, husband is pretending not to hear while painting, and she starts to say yes, then says "well parts of it"
Parts of it? Which parts? The parts extolling rape murder incest and raping of women children? (BLANKEST STARE A HUMAN HAS STARED (is that a word? stared...If it isn't I just invented it)
Just curious, do you have children?
Yes, two boys, pretty sure a girl on the way
You let your children near this thing? I'm not one to give advice on parenting, but I can assure you, my children if I had any would be kept a very safe distance from any of the 8 BILLION or so bibles printed and forced onto people, ya know, to save their souls and what not. Ugh ( I walk away)
She stared at a wall for ~3 minutes, stood and walked away, never saying a thing. No clue what happened after, but I'm guessing some well needed and deserved soul searching. Not one to judge, if you want to be christian or catholic be my guest, but do so with your eyes open, especially when you have innocent children in the vicinity.
Why is she blessed? Are they moving in? I don't understand.
She was admiring the job her husband had done painting a room in my folks house..
I mean, she was astonished, as anyone would be. It's not every day a painter with ~20 years experience (brace yourself) PAINTS A ROOM.
And it looks nice I must say, with no blemishes or cracks etc.
This can only be God's work mind you...more specifically, a blessing from heaven or something...
FWIW, the painter was around today waiting to get paid, had nothing to say to me, which I thought was odd. I said hi, he kind of said hi, I small-balled a bit while smoking a cig, he kind of gave me the polite treatment and split. in fact, he was supposed to give me a business card, but forgot apparently...
__________________
My boys, we are at the end of an age. We live in a land of weather forcasts and breakfasts that set in. Shat on by Tories, shovelled up by labour. Now which of you is going to be a splendid fellow and go down to the Rolls for the rest of the wine?
I tried to do it, I got this little booklet with my new "date of birth" that I handwrote in it.
Never felt/saw/experienced a damn thing.
My sense of logic and reason was assaulted at every opportunity by christianity, I just lacked a sense of self capable of acting in my own interests and walking away from such nonsense.
scooter is this true
Hybrid Mode
