County Derry man's car flying local Gaelic team's flag vandalised

A County Derry man has had his car vandalised in Eglinton as he attempted to support his local Gaelic football team.

Faughanvale made the final of the Derry Intermediate Championship for the first time since 2017, and with the hopes of winning it for the first time this century, Christopher McNerlin proudly displayed green and white flags on his car.

Mr McNerlin was looking forward to travelling to the final at Celtic Park on Sunday with the flags flying from the car to demonstrate to all which side he would be supporting between Ballinderry and Faughanvale. 

However, during the late hours of Tuesday, October 22, after his family went to bed, the flag was removed from the car by a pair of scissors.

Mr McNerlin said: “For the second year in a row, someone has deliberately gone and cut down our car flags with scissors. 

“Last year they were flags in support of Derry GAA in the Ulster final; this year it's our local Gaelic football club Faughanvale who are in the final.

“On both occasions the flags have been cut down the night they have been put up, and it has also happened to someone else close by in Eglinton.”

The flags were put up in good faith to support his local sports team and not cause any offence to the local community.

Mr McNerlin said: “Initially I thought it might be some young fellas carrying on, but I think it's a bit more twisted, and I can't help but feel it's a bit anti-irish.

"Again, we will have to explain to our daughter why someone has targeted a team that she loves.

“What was meant to be a week of excitement has now been soured.”