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| Sinn Féin employee resigns after damage to DUP portrait | Sinn Féin employee resigns after damage to DUP portrait |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The portrait of a former DUP lord mayor was on display at Belfast City Hall | 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 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 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. | 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. | 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." | 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. | 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. | "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". |
| The Police Service of Northern Ireland said at 16.50 BST on Monday, they received a report of criminal damage to artwork in Belfast City Hall which occurred on Saturday evening. | |
| They encouraged anyone with information to contact them. | |
| 'Link to other removal?' | '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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 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. | 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. | "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 | 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. | 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. | "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. |