Contractors Removing Racist Graffiti in East Belfast Face Threats

Individuals contracted to eradicate racist graffiti from a residence in east Belfast faced threats and were instructed to depart the vicinity on two separate occasions during the previous month. These workers experienced intimidation at Hornby Crescent, situated off the Newtownards Road, on two distinct dates in November. Their objective was to cleanse explicitly racist graffiti from the exterior of a Housing Executive dwelling, a property that had previously been vandalized. The phrases “No blacks” and “Locals only,” alongside a highly offensive term, were spray-painted onto the property during the night of November 20-21. Law enforcement officials stated they received notification of the incident on November 24 and are conducting an inquiry into it as a racially motivated hate crime. It has been reported that the occupants residing in the house at that time have since vacated the premises. Belfast City Council completed the removal of the graffiti on Tuesday afternoon; however, inquiries have been raised regarding the nine-day interval between the initial report to the police and its eventual removal. Information has now surfaced indicating that on November 25, and subsequently three days later, contractors encountered intimidation at the site and were instructed to depart prior to commencing their tasks. The identical property had been defaced with similar graffiti on two prior occasions in October and November. Fiona McAteer, an Alliance councillor representing the district, asserted that the individuals responsible for the graffiti do not reflect the sentiments of most residents in East Belfast. “lt’s absolutely abhorrent, these are words that we should not have in our vocabulary anymore.” “People shouldn’t feel comfortable to be able to write that on a wall and no-one should have to read it.” “We are in a housing crisis. There so many people waiting for a safe, secure house so to have houses that can’t be used because of a few people in society, is just not good enough.”