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Sinn Féin employee resigns after damage to DUP portrait | Sinn Féin employee resigns after damage to DUP portrait |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The portrait of a former DUP lord mayor was on display at Belfast City Hall | |
A Sinn Féin employee has resigned after admitting involvement in an incident where damage was caused to a portrait in Belfast City Hall. | |
A painting of former lord mayor and Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) peer Lord Wallace Browne was removed from a wall at the weekend and its glass "smashed". | |
A Sinn Féin spokesperson said the employee was "immediately suspended" and the police have been notified. | |
The party said the employee, who worked in the assembly, had now resigned from their job and the party. | |
In a social media post, external, DUP leader Gavin Robinson said: "We don't know if the motivation was sectarian bigotry, antisemitism, wanton destruction or a heady mix of the three... but [it's] a disgrace." | |
DUP councillor Dean McCullough said the glass in the portrait's frame had been smashed. | |
"We have called for a full and robust investigation because there are a number of outstanding questions," he said. | |
The council said it was "assessing the extent of the damage and looking into the circumstances". | The council said it was "assessing the extent of the damage and looking into the circumstances". |
It added that it hoped the portrait could be repaired "as soon as possible so the portrait can be put back on display". | It added that it hoped the portrait could be repaired "as soon as possible so the portrait can be put back on display". |
'Link to other removal?' | |
Saturday's incident comes days after a portrait of former Belfast Lord Mayor Niall Ó Donnghaile was removed from City Hall. | |
Party group leaders on the council agreed the move unanimously, it is understood. | |
It followed revelations that Mr Ó Donnghaile quit Sinn Féin after sending inappropriate texts to a teenage boy. | |
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald told the Dáil (Irish parliament) there were no findings of illegality and no criminal charges were pursued. | |
The controversy concerning Mr Ó Donnghaile shows no signs of abating, with McDonald saying on Monday that she will make "a full, unequivocal apology" to the teenager. | |
The DUP's McCullough questioned whether the damage to the portrait was "in any way linked" to the "rightful removal" of Mr Ó Donnghaile's portrait. | |
"It is worth highlighting that this particular portrait was painted by the renowned Jewish artist, Israel Zohar - again, raising another, serious question," he added. | |
Wallace Browne was lord mayor of Belfast from 2005 - 2006 | |
The incident happened following an event at City Hall to celebrate an Irish language group's 20th anniversary. | |
Glór na Móna said they were "extremely disappointed" to learn of the incident and would assist the council with its investigation. | Glór na Móna said they were "extremely disappointed" to learn of the incident and would assist the council with its investigation. |
"Following the formal end of our event, a portrait within city hall was damaged," it said. | |
"Glór na Móna had no knowledge of this taking place and only became aware of this on Monday 21 October when contacted by council staff. | "Glór na Móna had no knowledge of this taking place and only became aware of this on Monday 21 October when contacted by council staff. |
"This is completely contrary to the ethos and principles of our organisation and the spirit of our successful anniversary celebratory event." | "This is completely contrary to the ethos and principles of our organisation and the spirit of our successful anniversary celebratory event." |
Several senior Sinn Féin members were among those seen in pictures posted online from the city hall event. | Several senior Sinn Féin members were among those seen in pictures posted online from the city hall event. |
They included former party leader Gerry Adams and Aisling Reilly, a junior minister in the Northern Ireland Executive. | They included former party leader Gerry Adams and Aisling Reilly, a junior minister in the Northern Ireland Executive. |