A UVF Christmas lights display in Derry has been changed after it was widely criticised as an insult to victims of the loyalist paramilitary organisation.
Christmas lights were used to spell out the name of the loyalist paramilitary group on the fence of a house in the Waterside area last week. Both Sinn Féin and the SDLP criticised the display as a “insult” to victims of the UVF.
Following coverage in Saturday’s Irish News, the sign was changed, with “1912” being added in lights beside UVF. A 1912 UVF flag was also erected beside the fence, in a reference to the loyalist paramilitary organisation founded to fight home rule at the start of the last century.
Loyalist bands often dress in the UVF uniform of 1912/1913, claiming they are commemorating the organisation which pledged to block home rule in Ireland. In 1914, the organisation imported thousands of German guns to arm its members.
Following the erection of the lights last week, police said they were aware of the display at Nelson Drive and that the Neighbourhood Policing Team had attended the scene.
Despite the change to the display, SDLP assembly member, Mark H Durkan said it remained offensive to victims of the UVF in the past and victims of the organisation’s criminality in the present.
“It is absolutely ridiculous. Someone obviously pointed out that the original display was glorifying a prescribed organisation.
“Christmas is about good will to everyone but using Christmas lights like this is meant to antagonise and promote division. It is still offensive to victims and to the people of that area who do not want the UVF there,” Mr Durkan said.
There has also been widespread criticism of a dissident republican Christmas window display which also appears to glorify violence. The window, at the Bogside headquarters of political group, Saoradh, shows a masked snowman pressing the detonator of a remote bomb.
