SLURRY ATTACK ON ADDICTS' REFUGE

A CO Antrim farmhouse earmarked as as a refuge for recovering heroin
addicts has been sprayed with pig slurry, it emerged today.

The attack, reported to police in Broughshane on Saturday morning, has been
slammed as "disgusting" by Peter Kernohan, one of the farmhouse project's
coordinators.

Mr Kernohan revealed the attack, which also included the destruction of
several roof tiles of the house at Longmore Road outside the village, has
caused the owner of the farm to withdraw his lease.

The idea for the rehabilitation centre, which was to be used to assist
recovering heroin addicts in the Ballymena area, involved a number of
Christians from both sides of the political divide working together.

Mr Kernohan branded the attack as "sick," saying it was carried out by
"ignorant people."He commented: "We had an opening ceremony at the
farmhouse a fortnight ago and now local farmers have come and sprayed us
with slurry and closed us down.

"We initially decided to embark on the project to help those addicted to
heroin, because there is no other help for them."

Saying there were over 500 registered addicts in Ballymena, some of them
schoolchildren, Mr Kernohan added: "We were trying to help people and
because of the paranoia of some people, they come and spray our refuge with
slurry.

"I'm disgusted to think these people can take the law into their own hands.

"Everyone else is ignoring heroin addicts, and what do these people do -
come along and do that to them."