ONLINE marketplace eBay has removed a dissident republican badge for sale featuring a PSNI officer in target crosshairs.
The item, priced at £5 on the popular website, featured a rear view image of a PSNI officer inside crosshairs, a telescopic sight where wires that are lined up when a shooter is aiming a gun.
The provocative pin, described as an 'Irish republican badge' was offered for sale by an eBay user who appeared to be from Scotland.
Shoppers who viewed the page were also recommended similar items including an “IRA/INLA” pin badge featuring a figure in a balaclava clutching a rifle and waving a flag bearing the term Irish Republic.
Another featured a pin of a beret-wearing snowman aiming a rocket propelled grenade with “Nollaig Shona Duit” – Irish for “happy Christmas”.
Both items remain on sale.
Other paramilitary memorabilia offered on eBay include wallets bearing logos of the UFF and UDA.
Ulster Unionist MLA for West Tyrone Ross Hussey, who sits on the Policing Board, described the sale of the PSNI target badge as “disgusting”.
“Given the amount of police who in real life were shot in the back by republican terrorists over the years in Northern Ireland, the badge amounts to an incitement to kill,” Mr Hussey said.
The MLA said he had complained to the website and reported the sale of the badge to police in Glasgow.
“I am hopeful this will be taken further by Police Scotland because I believe that whoever is behind this may have committed several offences associated with hate crime and the promotion of terrorism,” Mr Hussey added.
An eBay spokesman told the Irish News the badge was no longer offered on the site following Mr Hussey’s complaint.
“eBay does not allow the sale of items promoting or commemorating hatred and violence. Items may not be permitted if they contravene this,” the spokesman said.
“More than one billion items are listed on eBay across the globe, and in addition to our own efforts, reports from our community help to keep eBay free of listings of concern, which can be reported directly from the site.
“We conduct regular reviews of the eBay site to find offensive materials and remove them as soon as they are identified. Anyone found to be knowingly selling items of this kind will be investigated and face action including account restrictions or suspension.”
The PSNI declined to comment on the matter when contacted by the Irish News.
