'Sectarian hate crime' on historic Derry monument

A historic monument has been covered in paint in what police have described as a sectarian hate crime.

Walker’s Plinth on the Derry Walls is believed to have been attacked on Sunday night or in the early hours of Monday morning. 

A statue of the city's governor during the Siege of Derry, George Walker, stood on the plinth for almost 150 years. The plinth is all that remains of the statue of George Walker, built in 1826 to commemorate his role in the Siege of Derry, until it was blown up by the IRA in 1973.

Reverend Walker governed the city during the 1689 siege, a small part of the Jacobite War that was occurring across Europe at the time, with Ireland and Britain as focal points as William of Orange fought James II for the crown in England.

The siege lasted 105 days, with an estimated 4,000 people dying in the event. 

Foyle MP Colum Eastwood condemned the attack, which he said was designed to raise tension in the city ahead of July 12.

MP Eastwood said: “People in Derry want to live in peace with one another. This kind of attack is about raising tension in the city in the run-up to the twelfth, and no one wants it. The people responsible have no support and need to go away. 

“I would urge anyone with influence to use it to lower the temperature and make sure that the coming week passes off peacefully. Our city is built on a foundation of mutual respect and accommodation of all traditions. That’s what we have to show again.”

Foyle MLA Gary Middleton wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “Disgusted that once again Walkers Plinth has been targeted. The intolerance shown by those behind this attack is in stark contrast to the work carried out by the Siege Museum and the many visitors who come here to view the Plinth and the City Walls.”

Deputy Mayor and Siege Museum employee Darren Guy wrote on Facebook, “Totally disgusted to yet again see the sectarian vandalism carried out on Walker's Plinth on Sunday night.”

People Before Profit Councillor also condemned the attack on the Walker Plinth.

He said: "Paint bombing the plinth on Derry Walls serves no purpose other than raising tensions.