Anti-DUP graffiti at hospital treated as sectarian hate crime

Police are treating anti-DUP graffiti daubed on the wall of the Royal Victoria Hospital as a sectarian hate crime.

A report was made to police on Tuesday about the graffiti, which appeared after a pro-Palestinian slogan was removed.

Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward.

The Belfast Health and Social Care Trust has said it is in discussions with a contractor to remove the anti-DUP graffiti.

Meanwhile, police are investigating a report of criminal damage after the windows of a community centre in Broughshane, County Antrim, were smashed and anti-Sinn Féin graffiti sprayed on the walls.

Bréanainn Lyness, the Sinn Féin deputy mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, said he understood the attack to be a result of the community association inviting him to switch on the town's Christmas lights.

Police said they received a report of the incident at about 07:15 GMT on Wednesday.

Speaking to BBC News NI, Lyness described the smashed windows and graffiti as a "disgrace".

He said that he had attended the switching on of the Christmas lights in Broughshane as deputy mayor, "not as a Sinn Féin rep", and was there to "represent everybody".

He said that the event was "apolitical".

Lyness said the people who had carried out the attack "don't represent the people of Broughshane", whom he said had been "overwhelmingly welcoming" when he had visited the village.

"I'm from Ballymena and Broughshane is only five minutes down the road so I would be in Broughshane regularly anyway," he added.

Lyness said he planned to visit the community association on Wednesday to offer them his support.

Ahead of the Christmas tree lighting, an Orange Order lodge objected to Lyness' attendance.

In a post on social media, Broughshane LOL 503 expressed its "deep disappointment and regret" at the decision by the Broughshane and District Community Association to invite a Sinn Féin councillor to turn on the Christmas lights.

"Christmas is a time for unity, togetherness, and goodwill to all, and we believe that such an important community event should reflect those values," the post continued.

Tle lodge said the presence of a Sinn Féin representative, given the party's "historical associations and stance" was "deeply divisive and inconsiderate to many" in the community.

There is no suggestion that the lodge is connected to the attack.

In a statement on Wednesday, Broughshane LOL 503 said its members "utterly condemn the recent attack on the premises of the local Community Association".

"This type of action has no place in our village or indeed, wider society," a lodge spokesperson told BBC News NI.

"As stated in our comments yesterday, we are committed to fostering a spirit of harmony and respect within Broughshane and will continue to work towards the strengthening of our community."

Police have said their enquiries are ongoing and have appealed for anyone with information to contact them.