South and East Belfast Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Ó Donnghaile Hits Out At Vandals

Published: 21 September, 2007

East Belfast Sinn Féin Representative Niall Ó Donnghaile has hit out at vandals in the Short Strand who have repeatedly defaced walls in the area.

Ó Donnghaile said:

"Again people in the area have woken up this morning to find that walls in the area have been defaced by vandals.

Many people in this area, including Sinn Féin and the Short Strand Community Forum and Partnership, have worked hard in recent times to initiate community clean up schemes to enhance the image of the area and to create a cleaner enviroment for the Short Strand community to live in.

Indeed, another initative is organised to take place this coming Monday where skips will be placed at various points in the area so that people can avail of the opportunity to dump unwanted items which in turn eradicates the problem of dumping in some of the entries. Local children will also take part in 'litter patrols.'

Acts of vandalism like this only serve to frustrate those efforts.

As this graffiti is anti Republican in its nature I challenge the culprits to engage in an open political debate.

But may I remind them that Sinn Féin will continue to take a lead within the Short Strand community in its stand against criminals and anti social elements who attempt to destroy this community."