McGurk’s Bar bomb memorial attacked
Police are investigating after paint was thrown on a memorial to those killed in the 1971 McGurk’s Bar bombing in north Belfast.
Police said they are treating the attack at North Queen Street as a hate crime.
A mural and granite tribute is at the site where 15 people died and 17 others were injured when a bomb left on the bar’s doorstep exploded causing the building to collapse.
The atrocity was carried out by the paramilitary Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), but had initially been presented by the RUC as an accidental “own goal” by the IRA.
Robert McClenaghan, whose 73-year-old grandfather Phillip Garry was the oldest person killed, said: “I am almost in tears to hear that our memorial has been desecrated.
“It is something that is symbolic of our campaign.
“Our loved ones lost their lives and within hours they lost their reputation after being falsely accused of making the bomb. That’s an injustice we are trying to rectify through the media, through the courts and through the public imagery such as the memorial.
“We are just trying to get the truth for them and part of that is the memorial.
“I just don’t understand the politics of throwing paint on it. It is just mindless and senseless that somebody would do that.”
Ciarán MacAirt, whose grandmother Kathleen Irvine also died in the bomb attack, also reacted to the news on Twitter.
If word that the #McGurks Bar memorial has been attacked is true, it is a despicable act and the hoods who did it have shamed their families
— Ciarán MacAirt (@ciaranmacairt) June 11, 2015
SDLP North Belfast MLA Alban Maginness described the incident as “deplorable”.
“The attack on the memorial is an attack on the community and an insult to the memory of those who were killed and injured in 1971,” he said.
“I would encourage anyone with information on this attack to report it to the authorities. Attacks like this cause nothing but hurt to the families and brings back painful memories for those who have been fighting for justice for the past 44 years.”
Sinn Féin councillor JJ Magee also condemned those behind the attack.
“This is an insult to all those who were killed and injured in the in McGurk’s Bar bombing, he said.
“All memorials should be treated with dignity and respect and should not be targeted in this way.
“I would appeal to anyone with information on this attack to bring it forward to the PSNI.”
A PSNI inspector has appealed to anyone with information about the incident to contact Tennent Street Police Station on the non-emergency number 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
