Rev Mervyn Gibson’s car was one of ten damaged by vandals across east Belfast

A CAR owned by a senior Orange Order figure was damaged during an overnight vandalism spree.

The vehicle belonging to Orange Order Chaplain Rev Mervyn Gibson was one of ten cars attacked.

Police are trying to establish if there is a link between the attacks on ten cars across parts of east Belfast overnight.

And they have appealed for anyone with information about the attacks to get in touch.

In particular, they are keen for information about a car being driven round parts of east Belfast which may have been in a number of the attacks.

In the first instance shortly before 11 pm on Friday, the side window of a car was smashed at Hillsborough Parade just off the Castlereagh Road.

Said a PSNI spokesperson: “The damage is alleged to have been caused by the occupants of a passing car.”

Then on Saturday morning, police received a report of damage to a second car in the area.

Just before 11 pm at Dunraven Avenue off the Bloomfield Road, five cars had their windows smashed possibly by a hammer or other weapaon.

Shortly after midnight, the rear window of a car was broken in Templemore Avenue.

The PSNI also received reports that two cars had been vandalised in the Ballyhackamore area not far from police headquarters.

Police say at this stage links between the incidents have not been established.