Chris Baird has made more than 40 appearances for Northern Ireland The home of the mother of Northern Ireland and Fulham footballer Chris Baird has been attacked in Rasharkin, County Antrim.
A petrol bomb was thrown at the front window of the house in Wallace Park at 0345 BST on Sunday. The flames were extinguished by a passer-by.
A number of people inside escaped injury. Police said a sectarian motive was one line of enquiry.
It is understood to be the second attack on the house in three weeks.
“It is quite clear they are being targeted because they are a Catholic family,” Sinn Fein’s Daithi McKay said.
“The family are not involved in anything political.
“People are shocked and very angry that they have been singled out.”
Baird, who plays for Fulham in the English Premiership, signed a new three year contract with the London club last week.
The 28-year-old arrived from Southampton in July 2007 and was a key part of the Fulham team that reached the Europa League final in May.
Baird started his career at Ballymena United before joining Southampton’s youth academy in 1998 and made his first team debut in March 2003.
He joined Fulham for £3m and was signed by then manager, the former Northern Ireland boss Lawrie Sanchez.
He has won more than 40 international caps and played in the Northern Ireland team which secured a 1-0 win in Slovenia in their Euro 2012 qualifier on 3 September.
Baird has captained Northern Ireland in the past, and was first given the role against Liechtenstein in August 2007.
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