John Dallat says he was left shocked after loyalists surrounded his car in Kilrea on Friday evening
SDLP East Derry MLA John Dallat has said he was left shaken after he a loyalists attacked his car during a band parade in Kilrea last night.
It happened on Friday evening after he had picked up a takeaway meal in the village.
Mr Dallat said the group surrounded his car, hit its windows and shouted at him while taking photographs.
The Assembly member member said it was a “nasty experience” that he still has not recovered from.
He said the incident was not reflective of a town he was “extremely proud of”.
Mr Dallat claims that after he returned to his car he was “surrounded by what might be described as a mob armed with mobile phones taking pictures of me, battering on the windows of my car”.
The SDLP MLA said the ordeal went on for about 20 minutes.
“For the first time in my life, despite a past that was often threatened, I dialled 999 and in a very short time, the police came.
“I am most grateful to them for rescuing me.
“Kilrea is a town I’m extremely proud of, where respect for diversity is acknowledged by everyone and I’m sorry that it happened there because that’s not the image we have,” he said.
Mr Dallat said that he was “quite bewildered” as to why the incident took place.
“I was doing what many parents, or grandparents do on a Friday night and that is collect some hot food and share it out with the family. That’s my wind down on a Friday.
“I thought we were past all of this, I thought I was free to go to my own town without being intimidated.
“This is a step back for me as I’ve spent my whole life trying to encourage moderate politics and respect for different cultures, and I’ll continue to do that.”
