Spray painting of Nazi graffiti in Eglinton condemned by Cllr Declan Norris
‘If this hateful vandalism is being carried out by children or young people with the knowledge of their parents, they need to get them to stop.’
The ongoing spray painting of Nazi graffiti at various locations around Eglinton village has been condemned by Derry City and Strabane District councillor Declan Norris (SDLP).
Cllr Norris, who represents Faughan District Electoral Area (DEA), told The Derry News: “Eglinton is an inclusive place and we don’t need this hate in the village. There should be no hate in any community. It needs to stop.
“If this hateful vandalism is being carried out by children or young people with the knowledge of their parents, they need to get them to stop,” added Cllr Norris.
Cllr Norris explained black swastikas had been spray painted at bus stops and various other locations in the village in the past few weeks.
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“One swastika was sprayed onto a bus stop, then a couple, then it escalated,” he said.
“I was contacted by some very concerned residents, one has even gone out and removed the graffiti. I know Derry City and Strabane District has cleaned or re-painted some of the bus stops,” added Cllr Norris.
Eglinton is an inclusive place and we don’t need this hate in the village
“But, it is not just bus stops on which graffiti has been sprayed. There is a Department for Infrastructure river hut at the bottom of Lower Ballygudden Road and they have spray painted a lot of swastikas on it too, as well as the slogan ‘Whites Only’.
“A resident contacted me about that and I went down and painted that out on Monday night, however, that is a clean sheet for the vandals now, and you know they will be back again.
“I don’t know who is painting this Nazi graffiti but what I do know is that there is a group of youths, aged about 12 or 13, maybe from elsewhere, going around Eglinton throwing eggs at houses and torturing families. The two things might be linked but I don’t know for sure.
“I have met with the PSNI, which is going to put on extra patrols in the area. The PSNI is taking these incidents very seriously,” said Cllr Norris.
He added: “There is a back lane that leads down the back of Glenrandel to Mill Path and they go down there and egg houses and cause bother. A fence in that area was also sprayed with black paint.”
Cllr Norris said he would make an appeal to parents to stop this behaviour if their children were involved.
“If your child is coming home with black paint on their hands or clothes or with black paint spray cans in their bags or whatever, have a conversation with them because they are going to get caught and, possibly,charged with a hate crime, which will be on their record for life,” he added.
“The young people involved might think such behaviour is harmless but it is definitely not.
“The Eglinton community is a brilliant community. The volunteers with the Tidy Village group keep it looking really well, with beautiful floral displays too. They are doing everything to keep the village pristine.
“We don’t need a vandalising or anti-social element in our village. Eglinton is an inclusive village. It is a mutli-cultural village. We have always been united together. The whole village has always been united. We don’t need this.
“I am calling on people, if they see this activity, report it to the police. If parents know their child is doing it, stop them. I would ask people to be more vigilant. if they see somebody vandalising a bus stop or any street furniture or infrastructure, report them,” said Cllr Norris.
He added: “I don’t normally do social media posts like this but this graffitti is going on for too long. I thought it might have stopped sooner but unfortunately it hasn’t
“They have even sprayed a swastika on a sign at the City of Derry Airport roundabout.
“What particularly annoyed me was the vandalism of a bus stop in the village which had been part of an arts project in the Faughan DEA between UV Arts and Derry City and Strabane District Council.
“Art was produced by various groups of children and young people and UV Arts painted them onto the bus stops in Bready, Maydown, Eglinton and a couple of other places.
“These vandals painted a swastika over the top of that too. I didn’t touch that because I was afraid if I removed the swastika it would damage the art.
I don’t want anyone to be made to live in fear
“Eglinton is an inclusive place and we don’t need this hate in the village. There should be no hate in any community. It needs to stop.
“If this hateful vandalism is being carried out by children or young people with the knowledge of their parents, they need to get them to stop. Eglinton is a totally mixed community.”
A PSNI spokesperson told The Derry News: “Police are investigating a report of hate-motivated criminal damage caused to property in Eglinton.
“On July 19, it was reported graffiti had been spray-painted on property in different locations throughout the village, on Coolafinny Road, Ballygudden Road and Mill Path.
“Police have also been made aware of anti-social behaviour occurring along walkways, particularly in the Glenrandel and Mill Path areas.
“Police are keen to hear from anyone with information or camera footage, which could assist enquiries in relation to these incidents.”
PSNI Inspector Anderson said: "To those involved, we make this direct appeal. What you are doing is not fun, it is not harmless.
“The type of incidents being reported can have a really negative impact on local residents and the community. If you are identified as being involved, the consequences could have serious repercussions for you.
“In the meantime, be assured, we take these types of incidents seriously and you will see our officers in the village to provide reassurance and deter any further offending.
“And, if you see these types of offences happening, please report it to police as soon as possible on 101, always 999 in an emergency.”
“You can contact police using our witness appeal form at https://reporting.psni.police.uk/appeals quoting reference number 1657 of 19/07/26 or call 101.
“Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/”
Foyle MLA Julie Middleton (DUP) condemned the graffitti.
She said there had been a significant increase in sectarian, racist, antisemetic and abusive graffitti in the Foyle constituency.
“I don’t want anyone to be made to live in fear,” said Ms Middleton, who urged residents to report incidents and seek assistance where required.