A number of bi-lingual road signs were attacked in the past week.
Sinn Fein councilor Sean Clarke has condemned the recent vandalising of bi-lingual road signs in Ulster.
Speaking to the MidUlster Mail after a spate of attacks on signage in the Loup area of south Derry, Clarke said: “These signs have been erected at the behest of local residents following a process whereby residents follow the democratic process to have their road or street named bi-lingually.
“Defacing and destroying this signage is therefore attacking the legitimate aspirations and demands of these local communities.
“It is also an absolute waste of ratepayers money because these signs will be replaced as necessary.”
A number of images of the signs that have been vandalised were compiled and shared on the Facebook and Twitter page for An Dream Dearg, an Irish language group.
Seicteachas • Coir Fuatha • Ciníochas
Sectarianism • Hate Crime • Racism#BeingInvisibleIsNoLongerAnOption #AchtAnois #Cothromas #Cearta 🅾️ pic.twitter.com/beZameuZrt
— An Dream Dearg 🅾️🦸🏽♀️🦸🏻♂️ (@dreamdearg) March 7, 2019
Speaking to JOE, a spokesperson for An Dream Dearg said: “There appears to be some sort of coordination with the recent attacks. This isn’t just spray painting etc…but people bringing heavy tools to dismantle signs.
“Some have been cut in half, some unrooted from the ground and others paintbombed etc.”
An Dream Dearg was set up in response to the decision by DUP Minister Paul Givan to cut the Líofa Gaeltacht Bursary Scheme.
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