Northern Ireland

Sinn Féin condemn attempts to silence Alliance councillor for opposing 'displays of hatred'

Alliance Councillor Michael Long at the partys office on the Newtownards Road where graffiti was sprayed overnight. PIcture Mal McCann
Alliance Councillor Michael Long at the partys office on the Newtownards Road where graffiti was sprayed overnight. PIcture Mal McCann

A Sinn Féin MLA has condemned attempts to intimidate the Alliance councillor Michael Long after graffiti appeared on the walls of his east Belfast office.

An anti-Irish News message was daubed on the wall on Friday, after Mr Long highlighted concerns in the publication about a loyalist bonfire displaying violent, sectarian and Nazi images.

Displaying the sentence: “F*** The Irish News,” the graffiti was signed by CRT, believed to be a reference to loyalist youths in east Belfast who call themselves ‘Clonduff Rocket Team’. It has since been painted over.

Read more:

  • What are eleventh night bonfires?
  • Bonfire builders hut decked in sectarian, violent and Nazi images
  • Who are the UVF?
A hut used by bonfire builders made from pallets at the rear of Lisnasharragh Leisure Centre in east Belfast
A hut used by bonfire builders made from pallets at the rear of Lisnasharragh Leisure Centre in east Belfast

Sinn Féin’s Gerry Kelly, the party’s policing spokesperson, condemned the attempts to silence Mr Long for speaking out against “displays of hatred”.

“Intimidation and hate crime is absolutely wrong, whether it is associated with bonfires or flags being used to intimidate or mark out territory, or the destruction of prison service posters in Derry,” he said.

Sinn Fein policing spokesman Gerry Kelly. (David Young/PA)
Sinn Fein policing spokesman Gerry Kelly. (David Young/PA)

“Everyone in this society should be able to carry out their work free from intimidation and harassment and the PSNI must do all in its power to bring those responsible for hate crime and intimidation before the courts.” 

On Friday, Mr Long said the menacing incident would not deter him from carrying out his work.

The PSNI are treating the graffiti as a sectarian-motivated hate crime, adding that two males had been seen in the area on an electric-powered motocross-type bicycle around 1.40am on Friday.

It came just hours after Mr Long had commented on pictures showing a loyalist bonfire and symbols in a hut used by builders at Lisnasharragh Leisure Centre.

Published in The Irish News, the pictures showed a flag depicting a masked man holding a rocket launcher and the words ‘Clonduff Rocket Team’.

A similar flag was also flown from a nearby lamppost, while a Swastika made from tape and with CRT written on each end was seen stuck to a makeshift wooden table.

The letters KAT, ‘Kill All Taigs’, were also etched onto a sofa alongside an obscene image.

Read more:

Alex Kane: Why are loyalist paramilitaries still recruiting – and why do they still exist? (premium)

Bonfire materials and pallets at the rear of Lisnasharragh Liesure Centre in east Belfast NO BYLINE
Bonfire materials and pallets at the rear of Lisnasharragh Liesure Centre in east Belfast NO BYLINE

The Lisnasharragh bonfire is being built close to two modern 4G playing pitches, with hundreds of pallets being piled up there in recent weeks.

Mr Long had said he expects the issue to be raised at forthcoming council meetings. 

"We will be making it clear that it's our view that action should be taken by the council to stop damage to their property and I think also ,whenever there is racist and sectarian and paramilitary symbols on our land, it doesn't send a very good signal to have it just left there."

Read more

Alliance councillor says he will not be intimidated after graffiti appears at offices after he voiced concerns over 'glorifying terrorism' bonfire

Bonfire builders hut decked in sectarian, violent and Nazi images