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| James Nesbitt 'unnerved' by graffiti targeting him in Portrush | James Nesbitt 'unnerved' by graffiti targeting him in Portrush |
| (4 months later) | |
| James Nesbitt, who is from a unionist background, addressed the Ireland's Future event in Dublin this month | James Nesbitt, who is from a unionist background, addressed the Ireland's Future event in Dublin this month |
| Actor James Nesbitt has said he is "unnerved" and "saddened" after being targeted with graffiti, which police are treating as a hate crime. | Actor James Nesbitt has said he is "unnerved" and "saddened" after being targeted with graffiti, which police are treating as a hate crime. |
| A message mentioning him was painted on a wall in Portrush, County Antrim, and featured a crosshair next to it. | A message mentioning him was painted on a wall in Portrush, County Antrim, and featured a crosshair next to it. |
| Politicians have condemned the message and have described it as an attempt to intimidate and stifle debate. | Politicians have condemned the message and have described it as an attempt to intimidate and stifle debate. |
| It comes weeks after the Cold Feet and Bloodlands star addressed a forum in Dublin discussing a united Ireland. | It comes weeks after the Cold Feet and Bloodlands star addressed a forum in Dublin discussing a united Ireland. |
| He told BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback programme: "It really saddens me because I am just really sorry this has been brought to Portrush; brought to my neighbours; brought to the community I love." | He told BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback programme: "It really saddens me because I am just really sorry this has been brought to Portrush; brought to my neighbours; brought to the community I love." |
| Listen: James Nesbitt responds to 'hate crime' graffiti | Listen: James Nesbitt responds to 'hate crime' graffiti |
| Mr Nesbitt said the message and its sentiment did not reflect the views of the majority of residents in Portrush. | Mr Nesbitt said the message and its sentiment did not reflect the views of the majority of residents in Portrush. |
| The message read: "1x king, 1x crown, no Pope in our town James Nesbitt." | The message read: "1x king, 1x crown, no Pope in our town James Nesbitt." |
| 'Never shied away' | 'Never shied away' |
| He said he believed that some people had "misunderstood" his position after he participated in the Ireland's Future conference at the beginning of October. | He said he believed that some people had "misunderstood" his position after he participated in the Ireland's Future conference at the beginning of October. |
| "In a democracy people are entitled to engage in a public conversation about the future and that is all I was intending to do when I took part in the debate," he said. | "In a democracy people are entitled to engage in a public conversation about the future and that is all I was intending to do when I took part in the debate," he said. |
| "I certainly don't promote any solution and I don't support any outcome." | "I certainly don't promote any solution and I don't support any outcome." |
| He described himself as a "proud Protestant from the north of Ireland". | He described himself as a "proud Protestant from the north of Ireland". |
| "I have never shied away from my Protestant culture but it doesn't define me," he said. | "I have never shied away from my Protestant culture but it doesn't define me," he said. |
| The graffiti is believed to have been daubed on the wall on Tuesday or Wednesday | The graffiti is believed to have been daubed on the wall on Tuesday or Wednesday |
| "If there is going to be change in the relationship between the north and the south [of Ireland] and the rest of the British Isles, then I was hoping to put forward the point that people from my tradition feel that their identity is in no way threatened and they have an equal voice." | "If there is going to be change in the relationship between the north and the south [of Ireland] and the rest of the British Isles, then I was hoping to put forward the point that people from my tradition feel that their identity is in no way threatened and they have an equal voice." |
| The actor said he found out about the graffiti as he was travelling back from a holiday. | The actor said he found out about the graffiti as he was travelling back from a holiday. |
| Police said it appeared on a wall near Bushmills Road in Portrush some time between 17:00 BST on Tuesday and 19:30 on Wednesday. | Police said it appeared on a wall near Bushmills Road in Portrush some time between 17:00 BST on Tuesday and 19:30 on Wednesday. |
| 'Right to express his views' | 'Right to express his views' |
| The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) politician Gregory Campbell said: "Jimmy Nesbitt is a local lad who has invested in his own community. | The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) politician Gregory Campbell said: "Jimmy Nesbitt is a local lad who has invested in his own community. |
| "Those painting threatening graffiti such as this should stop," said the MP. | "Those painting threatening graffiti such as this should stop," said the MP. |
| "Their actions are wrong and to be condemned. | "Their actions are wrong and to be condemned. |
| "I fundamentally disagree with Mr Nesbitt's position on Northern Ireland's future but he has every right to express his political views in whatever forum he wishes." | "I fundamentally disagree with Mr Nesbitt's position on Northern Ireland's future but he has every right to express his political views in whatever forum he wishes." |
| Former Northern Ireland First Minister Dame Arlene Foster said: "I totally condemn this attack on James Nesbitt even though I fundamentally disagree with him." | Former Northern Ireland First Minister Dame Arlene Foster said: "I totally condemn this attack on James Nesbitt even though I fundamentally disagree with him." |
| Caoimhe Archibald, a Sinn Féin assembly member, said the graffiti was a "sinister effort to silence debate" and she called for those behind it to be held accountable. | Caoimhe Archibald, a Sinn Féin assembly member, said the graffiti was a "sinister effort to silence debate" and she called for those behind it to be held accountable. |
| The SDLP's Cara Hunter described the graffiti as "absolutely disgraceful". | The SDLP's Cara Hunter described the graffiti as "absolutely disgraceful". |
| "People are fully entitled to have their own beliefs without intimidation or threat," she added. | "People are fully entitled to have their own beliefs without intimidation or threat," she added. |
| Related Topics | |
| Portrush | |
| Police Service of Northern Ireland |