There has been condemnation over threatening graffiti in Belfast targeting Ireland’s deputy premier Leo Varadkar.
The message scrawled on a wall in the Belvoir area of south Belfast has since been painted over.
First Minster Arlene Foster and deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill have both spoken out against the warning to the Tanaiste to not cross the Irish border.
Violence or the threat of violence has no place in democracy. I condemn those behind this. The NI Protocol needs replaced but violence or its threat will not achieve the change Northern Ireland needs. https://t.co/7cmlSJ0Yg7 Arlene Foster #WeWillMeetAgain (@DUPleader) January 30, 2021
PSNI treating graffiti targeting Tánaiste as hate crime
Updated / Saturday, 30 Jan 2021
19:49
The message on the wall at Drumart Square has since been painted over
The PSNI are treating threatening graffiti targeting Tánaiste Leo Varadkar in the Belvoir area of south Belfast as a hate crime.
Police say the graffiti, on a wall at Drumart Square, was written sometime between 6pm on Friday and 10am this morning.
They have urged anyone with information about the incident to call officers at Lisburn Road.
The message has since been painted over.
There has been condemnation over the incident, with Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald describing it as a vile, shameful attack on the Tánaiste.
Amnesty International and campaign group, Birth Mothers for Justice, are to hold an online public meeting for survivors of Mother and Baby Homes and Magdalene Laundries in Northern Ireland to discuss next steps in their campaign for a public inquiry.
Mother and Baby homes subjected women branded fallen to cruel, unjust and inhumane treatment
Some survivors are pressing for a speedy public inquiry
Arlene Foster and Michelle ONeill with Judith Gillespie at Stormont (Image: Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye)
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Robin Swann apologises to mother and baby home survivors The former Marianvale mother and baby home in Newry. Picture by Niall Carson, Press Association
Health minister Robin Swann
ROBIN Swann has apologised to survivors of mother and baby homes.
The health minister said sorry for “the hurt and damage done to so many women and children” after a harrowing report detailed how thousands of unmarried women had been sent to homes in Northern Ireland.
“It’s not a good chapter in our history, he said.
The Executive announced on Tuesday that an independent investigation will be held following a six-month consultation with victims and survivors.