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Irish language road signs damaged

Nationalists have reacted angrily after Irish language roadsigns were vandalised in Co Derry
Nationalists have reacted angrily after Irish language roadsigns were vandalised in Co Derry Nationalists have reacted angrily after Irish language roadsigns were vandalised in Co Derry

Nationalists have reacted angrily after Irish language road signs were vandalised in Co Derry.

It is understood up to four signs around Park Village, which is close to Dungiven, were targeted recently.

It is believed the plastic portion of three signs were cut away while one sign, including the frame, was removed completely.

East Derry Sinn Féin assembly member Caoimhe Archibald slammed the “deliberate damage”.

"Local people campaigned hard to get these signs and have expressed their understandable annoyance at this wanton destruction: the plastic part of the signs with the road name have been deliberately removed with the Irish language signs being specifically targeted,” she said.

"Prior to the original erection of these signs, consultations took place with residents on all the roads and received widespread support.”

Ms Archiblad said there was no excuse for this type of vandalism and urged support for an Irish language act.

"Occurrences like this bring into focus the need for protection of Irish Language rights through Acht na Gaeilge," she said.

A spokesman for the PSNI said the vandalism has not been reported to police.