Derry councillors disagree over recent city centre vandalism attack

There has been a difference of opinion over a recent vandalism attack on a Derry city centre business.

Red paint was daubed on the front of the Oasis Gaming Centre in Shipquay Street on Friday afternoon, causing damage to the exterior of the premises.

Police have described the incident as a hate crime.

At Tuesday's meeting of Derry and Strabane District Council's Business and Culture committee, Ulster Unionist Party councillor Darren Guy described the incident as 'wrong' and 'unjustified'.

Alderman Guy said: “The incident that happened outside the Oasis premises on Shipquay Street on Friday evening was quite rightly been declared as a hate crime by the PSNI.

“Actions like this are wrong, unjustified and cause great stress and anxiety amongst the employees.”

The deputy mayor said incidents of this nature have an adverse effect on attracting foreign investment into the city.

“Certain companies have blacklisted this area from America because of things that happened in the past,” he said.

Alderman Guy added that Oasis staff were being 'constantly abused' by people either entering the premises or when they are standing outside on a break.

“Passer-bys shout out the window, 'Jew lover' or 'Jew loving b*****d',” he said. “Many see this as acceptable. It's not. It's degrading.”

He added: “These actions need to be called out by all parties and the intimidation of the staff needs to stop.”

DUP councillor Julie Middleton also called on all parties to condemn 'this despicable behaviour'.

“What happened the other night was a hate crime,” Alderman Middleton said. “The appalling actions that are continuing to happen are absolutely not welcome.”

People Before Profit (PBP) councillor Shaun Harkin said he doubted the premises would have been painted in red if the events in the middle-east were not happening.

Cllr Harkin said: “If there wasn't a genocide happening in Gaza, I doubt it would have been painted red.

“If there hadn't been over a year (with) 50,000 people slaughtered, including tens of thousands of children slaughtered, I doubt that it would have happened.”

Cllr Harkin said he didn't agree with how the incident was described by the unionist councillors.

The PBP councillor added that despite not hearing of any reports of Oasis staff being abused he said anyone using anti-semetic remarks 'was wrong'.

“Once again when anybody takes action around Palestine, whenever anyone tries to doubt there is a genocide happening, we hear this accusation of anti-semetism, which is being completely rejected across the world. People just don't buy that anymore that this is about anti-semetism.

“What's happening is because children are being slaughtered. There is a state (Israel) that is being allowed to get away with a genocide, human rights abuses, war crimes live on TV and is now spreading a war right across the region, that's the problem.

“If that wasn't happening, I'm sure Oasis wouldn't be getting painted red,” Cllr Harkin said.