Republican anger at hunger strike graffiti
A former hunger striker has accused dissident republicans of breaking an "unwritten rule" by daubing graffiti in support of Gary Donnelly on a mural in Bishop Street.
Foyle Sinn Fin MLA Raymond McCartney, who was on hunger strike for 53 days in 1980, made the comment after slogans were painted on mural on Bishop Street which contains portraits of republican hunger strikers.
The slogans refer to Donnelly, a prominent 32 County Sovereignty Movement activist, who is currently refusing food in Magheraberry prison. Similar slogans have been painted in a number of areas of the city, including on the City Walls overlooking Fahan Street.
Mr McCartney said people living in the area were angered by the graffiti.
"I was contacted by people living in the Bishop Street area on St Patrick's Day who were very angry and annoyed that graffiti had been sprayed on the large mural dedicated to the memory of the Hunger Strikers.
"This mural was unveiled at the National Hunger Strike commemoration which took place in the city a few years ago and has never been touched in all that time. There has been an unwritten rule going through all strands of republicanism that such murals are not attacked or defaced. Sadly in this occasion that doesn't seemed to have happened," he said.
The Foyle MLA also called on all political groups not to graffiti residential areas.
"I am calling on all political groupings and community organisations to revisit the pledge made in 2008 by everyone not to get involved in graffiti campaigns and like Sinn Fin make a positive statement to bring it to an end so that we can start the work of cleaning up our areas again," he said.
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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