Windows have been smashed and anti Sinn Féin graffiti sprayed on community offices in Broughshane following a row over one of its councillors turning the village’s Christmas lights on.
The offices are home to a number of community and charity groups, including a charity which supports elderly people in the local area.
Mid and East Antrim Deputy Mayor Bréanainn Lyness had switched the village’s Christmas lights on on Saturday, sparking criticism from the local Orange lodge.
The councillor had expressed surprise that the event attracted controversy following the lengthy condemnation of his presence at the event.
Mr Lyness accepted the invitation to attend the event, deputising for Mayor Beth Adger, a DUP representative who was in Ballymena for the festive lighting up of that town on the same evening.
Broughshane LOL 503 said it was “disappointed” and “dismayed” that an “opportunity to bring people together and celebrate the festive season has instead been marred by a decision that fails to respect the sensitivities of all members of the community”.
Several of windows were smashed at Broughshane House on Main Street in the town in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Anti Sinn Féin graffiti was also sprawled at the front of the community offices, which houses a local charity supporting elderly people in the Mid and East Antrim council area.
Broughshane House is also the home of the Broughshane and District Community Association, who had extended the invitation to the Sinn Féin councillor.
The PSNI has appealed for witnesses to the incident to come forward.
Police said officers were investigating a report of criminal damage at a property in the Main Street area of Broughshane on November 27.
It was reported that at around 7.15am that windows of a business premises had been smashed along with graffiti sprayed on the wall.
Alliance MLA Sian Mulholland said the incident was not representative of those in the community.
“The attack on Broughshane House is disgraceful and those responsible should face the full consequences of their actions,” she said.
“The nature of this attack is extremely concerning and must be robustly condemned by all.
“It’s clear the disappointing narrative regarding the recent Christmas lights switch-on has played a role in this attack. We need to see leadership in our community and those with a platform to condemn these actions and also be aware of how their statements carry weight and incite this sort of despicable behaviour.”
Her party colleague and councillor Chelsea Harwood said Broughshane House was vital to the local area with several organisations working from and running programmes out of it.
“To see it vandalised in such fashion will have a major impact on those who rely heavily on the services offered in the building,” she said.
Mr Lyness said: “Those who have engaged in this vandalism do not represent the wider Broughshane community who welcomed me to their Christmas event, which I was happy to attend.
“The damage done to these offices is an attack on the local community who use this building to access vital charities which support the elderly.”
