Graffiti targeting James Nesbitt being treated as a hate crime
The graffiti appeared on a wall where the Bloodlands and Cold Feet actor reportedly owns a property
Last updated 20th Oct 2022
Graffiti appearing on the north coast targeting actor James Nesbitt is being treated as a hate crime.
Coleraine police said they received a report of graffiti on a wall in the Bushmills Road area of Portrush on Wednesday 19th October.
The graffiti appeared on a wall where the Bloodlands and Cold Feet actor reportedly owns a property.
The vandalism comes after the local star, who is from a unionist background, gave a keynote speech at an Ireland's Future event in Dublin at the end of last month.
The graffiti is believed to have been written on the wall sometime between 5pm on Tuesday and 7.30pm on Wednesday evening.
East Londonderry MLA Cara Hunter condemned it as “Unacceptable”.
On Twitter she posted “Absolutely disgraceful sectarian graffiti in Portrush. This is a disgusting attempt to silence discussion on shaping a New Ireland. It won’t work.
“People are fully entitled to have their own beliefs without intimidation or threat. Unacceptable behaviour.”
Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald has also condemned the threats to actor James
The East Derry MLA said: “The appearance of threatening and sectarian graffiti directed at James Nesbitt in Portrush is disgusting.
“These threats are an attack on the right to freedom of expression. They come only weeks after James Nesbitt addressed thousands of people in Dublin from right across the political spectrum to discuss the future of the island of Ireland.
“This is clearly a sinister effort to silence debate and intimidate people from joining the discussion.
“There is no place in society for the threats and hatred directed at James Nesbitt.
“Political leaders should stand shoulder to shoulder in opposition to these threats.
“Those responsible for this hate crime should be held to account.
“Anyone with information on those responsible should bring it forward to the PSNI.”
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