Sectarian graffiti attack on primary
The principal of a North Belfast primary school daubed with sectarian graffiti while the children were off for St Patrick’s Day has said he is “very saddened” by the return of loyalist attacks on the school.
Staff and pupils at St Mary’s Star of the Sea, Greencastle returned to school after the break on Wednesday to find their walls had been painted with anti-Catholic slurs.
Slogans such as KAT- an acronym for Kill All Taigs-, No Surrender and Happy St Patrick’s Day Ha Ha Ha were scrawled on the school walls, windows and tarmac in yellow paint.
The graffiti attack follows another sectarian incident on a local bar in the area last week.
The Fountain Bar, which is also on the Shore Road in Greencastle, was targeted by loyalist pipebombers last Tuesday night. No one was injured in the attack.
Although previously a target the Shore Road primary school has not been the focus for sectarian attacks in over two years. Then their sports hall suffered serious damage in an arson attack. In the past the school, which is sandwiched between the loyalist Shore Crescent and Graymount estates, has been the focus of sectarian attack.
Head teacher Kieran McGarry said the young pupils were asking questions about why their school was targeted.
“I was very saddened to find the graffiti this morning. This school is a place where we encourage our pupils to show respect at all times and not to cause offence,” he said.
“We have had very good relations with the local community in recent years and today one of our classes is on a good relations trip. I just want to stress that we are tolerant of difference here and respect others.
“That is why we are so disappointed by the graffiti. The children have been asking questions this morning about what the slogans mean and why they were written on the school.
“It’s very sad for us to have this again.”
A spokesman for the PSNI said anyone who witnessed suspicious activity or with information should contact police by calling 0845 600 8000, alternatively information about crime can be passed anonymously to the Crimestoppers charity by contacting 0845 600 8000.
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