Memorial Attack 'A Hate Crime'

A memorial dedicated to three Scottish soldiers who were murdered by the IRA has been attacked in what police have called a hate crime.

Sectarian graffiti was daubed on the monument dedicated to teenage brothers John and Joseph McCaig, 17 and 18 from Ayr, and their colleague Dougald McCaughey, 23, from Glasgow.

It was erected to mark the spot at White Brae, Ligoniel, on the outskirts of north Belfast, where the three off-duty fusiliers were shot dead by the IRA in 1971.

It has been vandalised more than 20 times since it was built five years ago with the support of the Royal British Legion.

Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) councillor Julie Anne Corr Johnston described the attack as "utterly repulsive''.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said they received a report of criminal damage and were treating it as a hate crime.

Chief Inspector Gavin Kirkpatrick has appealed for witnesses to contact police on the non emergency 101 number.