Graffiti on a dual language street sign in South Belfast has been condemned as "sectarian and anti-Irish." Damage was caused to the street sign on Laganvale Street in the Stranmillis area over the weekend.
An image from the area shows a sectarian slogan sprayed onto the sign, with the Irish part of the sign sprayed over with black paint. Posting about this on social media, People Before Profit made reference to the recent distribution of anti-Irish language leaflets outside an irish language class on the Dublin Road in December.
This refers to an incident where leaflets opposed to the Irish language were placed on the cars of students attending a class at The Points bar. Police at the time said that incident was being treated as a "hate incident."
Read more: Belfast family who say they fled city due to threats face being left homeless
Read more: Malone Road Irish street sign bid put to 'back of queue'
Relating to the street sign on Laganvale Street, a spokesperson for People Before Profit said: "This graffiti is a symptom of the continued discrimination against Irish speakers that the Stormont executive is failing to confront.
"A local resident highlighted that as a diverse area with many speakers and supporters of the Irish language from all backgrounds who, democratically, asked for dual language signage, this doesn’t represent the community of Stranmillis or the wider South Belfast area. Sectarian threats have no place in South Belfast.
"The targeting of the Irish language and its speakers should be condemned by all parties, and the relentless attacks on Irish language rights must end. Those in the Executive who refuse to uphold the right to speak, teach, and use the Irish language demonstrate the institutionalised sectarianism that defines Stormont.
"Families in the area who speak Irish should not be left to feel intimidated when leaving their homes by those who refuse to accept the rights to language that underpins a free and fair society. Everyone should show our neighbours that we stand with them. Ní neart go chur le chéile. There is no strength until we come together."
A Belfast City Council spokesperson said: “Council has been made aware of graffiti on a street sign at Laganvale Street. This will be assessed for damage and cleaned as soon as possible.”
The PSNI have been contacted for a statement.
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.
English (United States) ·