Northern Ireland

Attacks on DUP and Alliance offices 'completely unacceptable'

The Bangor office of Stephen Farry was vandalised. Picture from Stephen Farry/ Twitter
The Bangor office of Stephen Farry was vandalised. Picture from Stephen Farry/ Twitter The Bangor office of Stephen Farry was vandalised. Picture from Stephen Farry/ Twitter

ATTACKS on constituency offices belonging to the DUP and Alliance in Ards and North Down have been described as "completely unacceptable".

Newry and Armagh DUP assembly member William Irwin also revealed yesterday that he had been informed by police of a threat against him.

He told the Stormont Assembly that he had been contacted on Saturday and informed of "social media misinformation" and a threat.

He said those behind what he described as "sinister activity" to desist immediately.

It comes as offices belonging to his party colleagues, DUP Education Minister Peter Weir and tStrangford MP Jim Shannon were attacked in Newtownards.

Graffiti was also daubed on the Bangor office of Alliance MP Stephen Farry, while premises used by his party colleague Kellie Armstrong in Newtownards was also targeted.

"RIP GFA" - a reference to the Good Friday Agreement - was sprayed on Mr Farry's office, while "Stay out" was daubed on Ms Armstrong's office.

Mr Farry posted a photograph of the vandalism on his Twitter page and said it is "time for people to dial down the rhetoric".

He added that the "rule of law must be maintained".

Ms Armstrong, MLA for Strangford, also said the graffiti "will not stop me from representing my constituents".

Alliance Party leader Naomi Long last night said all of the attacks were "completely unacceptable".

"No elected rep should have to put up with this harassment and abuse to do their job," she said in a post on social media.