Long condemns ‘petty and childish’ street sign vandals

By David Young, PA

The Justice minister has branded those damaging street signs in Northern Ireland as “petty and childish”.

Naomi Long was speaking in the Assembly following a weekend incident in east Belfast where a dual language sign was vandalised at the weekend.

An angle grinder was used to cut out the Irish language part of the sign at Shandon Park. Police are investigating the incident as “hate-motivated” criminal damage.

Ms Long’s comments during question time came ahead of a DUP motion in the chamber calling for the replacement of Belfast City Council’s Irish language street sign.

The policy allows for the erection of bilingual signs if 15% of a street’s residents express support for the move. The DUP motion branded the policy “undemocratic and oppressive”.

During question time on Monday, DUP MLA for East Belfast David Brooks referred to the Shandon Park incident and asked the minister whether assurances could be provided that police investigations would also be launched into damage to other signs across Northern Ireland.

“I think the damaging of street signs in general is one of the most petty and childish acts that a person can undertake,” replied Ms Long.

“If you can’t drive past a sign that you don’t like without feeling the need to take an angle grinder to it or a bucket of paint to it, I think you need to have a long, hard look at yourself.

“But I won’t be providing any assurance in this chamber as to how the PSNI will prioritise investigations, because, as you will be well aware, it is a matter for the Chief Constable (Jon Boutcher) to direct the resources of the PSNI, not for me as minister.”