MPs are labelling the act as ‘the lowest of the low’.
An Irish flag has been nailed to a memorial commemorating the Kingsmill massacre during an incident which police are treating as a “sectarian-motivated hate crime”.
The PSNI are appealing for information following the incident of criminal damage to the memorial in the Kingsmill Road area of Bessbrook.
Police discovered damage to the memorial early on Monday morning, which saw a flower pot at the memorial damaged and a tricolour nailed to the memorial.
Kingsmill is a village in south Armagh that, back in 1976, witnessed one of the more shocking incidents of the troubles.
The incident involved republican gunmen stopping a van, and lining up the occupants, asking them their religion and finally shooting them. They were 11 Protestant textile workers who were on their way home.
Only one survived.
The DUP, Ulster Unionist Party and Sinn Féin have condemned the attack, with a number of politicians referring to the attack as ‘disgusting’.
As MP for the constituency I totally condemn this inexcusable & repugnant attack on the Kingsmill monument. Everyone must have the right to remember their loved ones with dignity & respect.
— Mickey Brady (@MickeyBradySF) July 30, 2018
.@StephenFarryMLA describes Kingsmill memorial attack as disgusting.
See more here –https://t.co/pXe7ubBAeY
— Alliance Party (@allianceparty) July 30, 2018
I am truly appalled at the attack which occurred on the Kingsmills Memorial overnight. Flowers placed by families were desecrated and a tricolour was nailed onto the memorial. The Kingsmills families should not have to contend with such sickening behaviour @uuponline
— David Taylor (@DavidTayloruup) July 30, 2018
According to the PSNI, Hate and Signal Crimes are taken to mean “any crime or incident against an identifiable group of people is a factor in determining who is victimised.”
They are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident or who noticed any unusual activity in the area to contact police at Newtownhamilton Police Station on 101 quoting reference 246 30/07/18.
Alternatively, information can also be provided to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Back in January, a Sinn Féin MP was embroiled in abuse as a video was posted showing him with a Kingsmill-branded sliced pan on his head on the anniversary of the Kingsmill massacre.
Barry McElduff MP, who is well-known for his light-hearted contributions to social media, posted the video to his Twitter profile where he received an array of hate-filled replies.
McElduff later apologised for the action, later stating that is was “Never my intention to offend anyone who has suffered grievously.”
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