AN SDLP CANDIDATE in next month’s elections to the Stormont Assembly was hospitalised last night after two rocks were thrown through the windscreen of her car, striking her in the hand.

Dolores Kelly, an outgoing member of the assembly for Upper Bann, was at the Bells Row railway crossing in Kilwilkie outside Lurgan at around 6pm last night when her car’s windscreen was shattered by the objects being thrown by a number of youths.

UTV News reported that Kelly said she had been “deliberately targeted”, and that she had sustained several cuts to her hand.

“I have no doubt my car was deliberately targeted by these mindless hooligans who are intent in wreaking havoc in this area,” she said, pledging not to allow the incident stop her from campaigning.

Despite the damage to my car, which will require a new windscreen, and my injuries it will not stop me from speaking out against those engaging in anti-social behaviour.

Kelly als0 told the Belfast Telegraph that her car would have been well-known in the area as she would regularly attend meetings and fora in the area.

RTÉ News reported that the Northern Irish Secretary of State Owen Paterson condemned the attack, describing it as “despicable and cowardly”

The attack on Kelly followed a petrol-bomb attack on a car being used by two SDLP canvassers in Co Tyrone on Thursday evening; two 17-year-olds were arrested in connection with that incident.