SECTARIAN graffiti which appeared in a mixed area of east Belfast has been condemned.
The “Taigs out” graffiti was scrawled on a wall in the Ravenhill Avenue area in recent days.
The vandals also warned Catholics to “get out” and scrawled “not welcome” in the mixed area.
The graffiti appeared close to new houses being built under the shared neighbourhood scheme, Together: Building a United Community, which is backed by the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister.
Alliance Party assembly member Anna Lo condemned the graffiti.
“South Belfast is a diverse and welcoming community, with people from all backgrounds living here. Mixed communities and neighbourhoods are one of the best ways to ensure a truly shared future for all,” she said.
“This graffiti is an unwelcome move that will be condemned by all right-thinking people. It is disgraceful that someone can think they can threaten and make people feel unwelcome by using this language and in a public forum.”
Meanwhile, The Housing Executive has said it will resume work in a loyalist estate in Bangor, Co Down, after a work van was burnt out last week in an arson attack.
The housing body withdrew all services from the Kilcooley estate last Friday after the van was torched.
It is believed loyalist paramilitaries targeted the contractors van which was used for maintenance work.
It is not clear if the attack was connected to the construction of a new social housing scheme at nearby Kilclief Gardens.
After the attack the Housing Executive pulled out all its workers from the area over fears for their safety.
A spokeswoman last night said they have “received assurances about the safety of its staff and contractors” and that “the contractor has agreed to undertake emergency and urgent work”.
She said that “if there are no further incidents, the contractor will resume full services on the estate later this week”.
