Insulting Graffiti on Church in Killeshil

Case information
Incident date
Country
Ireland
Place
Killeshil
Categories
  • Social Hostility / Intolerance
Attack Against
  • Faith
Perpetrator / Motive Indicators
  • Political
  • Radical Left
Hate Crime & Violent Incidents
  • Vandalism (all)
  • Vandalism of Church
  • Insult or Incitement
Place of Incident
  • Church
Bias Indicators
  • Comments/Written Statements/Gestures/Graffiti
  • Significance of Property/Structure/Location to religious community
Reported to Police
  • Yes
Response of Local Authorities
  • Investigated
Image credit: belfastlive.co.uk

The outer wall of the St. Paul's Church of Ireland in Killeshil was painted with the words "baby killers" alongside a swastika symbol. The attack was labelled a hate crime by the PSNI who were investigating the incident. Frances Burton, the DUP councillor for the Clogher Valley area said: “It really is soul-destroying for the people involved with that church and it’s something that is so uncalled for."

He continued: "The distress and upset it has caused to people in that area who live quietly and go to their place of worship is just ridiculous."

Source: belfastlive.co.uk