Northern Ireland

Narrow Water memorial to murdered British soldiers vandalised again

The memorial to British soldiers killed at Narrow Water has been attacked for the second time in a matter of weeks. Picture by Cllr Glyn Hanna/Twitter
The memorial to British soldiers killed at Narrow Water has been attacked for the second time in a matter of weeks. Picture by Cllr Glyn Hanna/Twitter The memorial to British soldiers killed at Narrow Water has been attacked for the second time in a matter of weeks. Picture by Cllr Glyn Hanna/Twitter
By David Young and Press Association

A memorial for 18 British soldiers murdered in Co Down has been desecrated for the second time in weeks.

Poppy wreaths, crosses and flowers were vandalised overnight at Narrow Water, near Warrenpoint.

The memorial marks the site where a British Army convoy was ambushed by two roadside IRA bombs in August 1979.

Poppies, snapped wooden crosses and flowers lay strewn on the pavement in front of the memorial this morning.

Police are investigating.

It comes weeks after football fans were blamed for wrecking the memorial as they left Warrenpoint for a return bus trip to Belfast.

Belfast football club Cliftonville said it was aware of reports that some fans returning from a fixture against Warrenpoint Town were responsible.

Cliftonville condemned September's vandalism as "pathetic" and made clear the perpetrators were not part of an official or affiliated supporters club.

Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard condemned the vandalism, saying: "If you feel the need to trample on the heartfelt pain of others to make yourself feel good you are not a republican. You are a moron.

Please leave these wreaths alone."