Sectarian Graffiti on Apprentice Boys of Derry Memorial Hall
A councillor has condemned sectarian graffiti that was found on the Apprentice Boys of Derry Memorial Hall on St Patrick's Day.
UUP councillor Darren Guy reported that the graffiti appeared on the same day members of the organisation attended a Christian church service as part of the bank holiday on Tuesday.
"Those behind the graffiti did not show any sign of Christianity to their Protestant neighbours,"Guy said, adding that there was no place for such graffiti in this city or anywhere else.
Police confirmed they are treating the criminal damage caused to the door of the Memorial Hall in the Society Street area of the city on 17 March as a "sectarian-motivated hate crime".
"This is part of an upsurge in attacks on the Protestant community within our city,"Guy stated.
Related Sectarian Attacks in Londonderry
In April, a historic monument on Londonderry's city walls, Walker's Plinth, was targeted in a "sectarian" paint attack. Additionally, police are investigating an attack on several homes in the Waterside area of the city, which is also being treated as "sectarian-motivated".
Guy emphasized the need for further action to combat such incidents.
"More must be done to educate and eradicate such hatred,"he said.
Response from the Apprentice Boys of Derry
The Apprentice Boys of Derry issued a statement acknowledging awareness of the graffiti and confirmed that the matter is now with the PSNI.
They described such incidents as "always disappointing" but stressed that the graffiti had "absolutely zero impact on St Patrick's Day events in the Memorial Hall, enjoyed by all attending."
