Londonderry widow 'living in fear' after attacks on her home
An elderly widow in Londonderry has said she is living in fear after several attacks on her home.
Brid Quigley, 78, from St Columb's Wells in the city, has had screens fitted across windows and doors of her home.
Police said they are aware of incidents of criminal damage at the house and have increased patrolling in the area.
In an attack on Friday night, a stone came through the screen and smashed the sitting room window.
Mrs Quigley said she was in the room praying with a neighbour when it happened.
"I am in shock since and I am afraid to sleep at night. I had to get tablets for my nerves from my GP but I feel like I just cannot go on.
"I am just shattered. They are preying on me more since my husband died."
Mrs Quigley, who has lived in the house for over 30 years, said she refused to leave.
"I do not know what to do," she said. "It is going to kill me."
Sean Collins from Community Restorative Justice has been working with Mrs Quigley. He said he believed the attacks are personal.
"They are happening so often," he said. "Sometimes there is a gap between attacks, perhaps a few weeks or a month, but then it happens again."
"I am bewildered that young people would do this," he said.
Mr Collins called on residents in the local community to speak to those carrying out the attacks and tell them to stop.
"Brid is a vulnerable person and we should, as a community, be protecting her," he said.
Police said officers from the Neighbourhood Policing Team had been in close contact with Mrs Quigley and appealed to residents in the area to come forward with information.