BY CIARAN WOODS

At their monthly meeting last Wednesday, the chamber of Strabane District Council was united in their total condemnation of the recent spate of attacks and explosive devices left at the homes of local District Policing Partnership members.

Strabane DPP chairman Eugene McMenamin called the attacks "the worst thing that we as public representatives need," and added, "We all hoped that the days of these boys coming in the dark of night and leaving these devices was in the past, but unfortunately this has reared its head again. This has to be condemned by every right-thinking individual, and I have no doubt that it will be."

The SDLP representative continued, "The question I want to ask these people is what on earth are they trying to prove? For the past years, members of the DPP have worked hard under very difficult circumstances, and I applaud each and every one of them for that. This is the last thing that Strabane needs, and that the peace process needs."

His sentiments were echoed by council vice-chairman, Cllr Gerard Foley, who, speaking on behalf of the Sinn Fein representatives, said, "We totally condemn these attacks which have taken place. We would like to see them cease immediately before some child or passer-by gets seriously hurt by one of these devices."

Similar messages of condemnation came from independent James O'Kane, Ulster Unionist James Emery and DUP member Alan Bresland.

UUP Cllr Derek Hussey added his own condemnation of the attacks. He described the incidents as, "a callous attempt to divert democracy" and added, "I would hope that all members in the chamber would be agreed that anyone with information should pass it immediately onto the forces of law and order."