Mother-of-four Susan Coyle has blamed hoods engaged in a campaign of violence and intimidation against her family for the loss of her unborn child.

"I went for my five month scan and everything was fine but that night every single window on the ground floor of the house was put right through and the next day I lost the baby," she told the 'Journal'

Mrs Coyle said she was at her "wit's end" due to the frequent attacks on her Leafair Park home during the last three years.

She claimed her family was being targeted by enemies of her husband from whom she is now separated.

However, the attacks have continued and the young mother now fears for the lives of her four young children who range in age from two to 13 years.

"The house looks like something out of Bosnia at the minute. The wall at the front of the house has been rammed, the gate is hanging off, the garage door has been ripped off and the front door has been burned. I can do nothing, I'm terrified - I'm on my own with the wains and the house is an embarrassment."

Burn house

She added: "They have threatened to set fire to the oil tank and burn the house down. Paramilitaries have even told my ex-husband Gerard, who doesn't live in the city, that he is under death threat."

Mrs Coyle said that on one occasion she and her husband were in their car with the kids in the back when they were pursued by a man brandishing a gun.

"We were followed by the car which pulled up beside us and a man started swinging a gun at us and the wains. I didn't know if it was a real or not but it was very frightening."

Mrs Coyle believes she and her family can no longer remain in the area. "Ideally, I'd like to stay in my house but the fact is a I don't feel safe, the children are not safe. We feel under threat all the time. The only option for us is to move."