Loyalists have been accused of ‘marking territory’ after sinister UDA/UFF flags were put up in an unoccupied new housing development in north Belfast.
The newly built homes at Gray’s lane, which is off the Shore Road, are due to be handed over to new tenants next month.
Earlier this year “locals only” graffiti was scrawled on hoarding in the area.
Now paramilitary flags glorifying the UDA/UFF have been put up in the development, which is currently unoccupied.
The flags, bearing the words ‘South East Antrim Brigade’ and ‘Simply the Best’ include images of two automatic rifles along with UDA and UFF crests.
The 13 new properties have been developed by Apex Housing Association and include six two-bedroom houses and six three-bedroom homes, along with one “complex needs bungalow”, which could be allocated to someone with a disability.
On Friday police confirmed that in May they received a report of criminal damage in the Gray’s Lane area and when officers attended the scene they “noted graffiti on fencing at the front of a new housing development”.
A spokeswoman added that the matter was investigated as a “racially motivated hate crime”
SDLP councillor Carl Whyte condemned the latest paramilitary display.
“Earlier this year I worked with council officials to have anti-immigrant graffiti removed from fencing around this development,” he said.
“This took place within 24 hours of being reported.
“That racist messaging and this illegal and unlawful erection of flags are nothing more than territory marking and attempts to frighten and intimidate potential occupants of this much needed social housing.”
Mr Whyte said he intends to contact the Department for Infrastructure, who are responsible for the removal of illegally erected flags” as well as the PSNI “to request that this flag is removed immediately”.
A spokeswoman for Apex Housing said: “The housing at Gray’s Lane will be allocated in accordance with the rules of the Housing Selection Scheme.
“Anyone wishing to be considered for these new homes, should contact their assessing landlord to ensure their details and circumstances are up-to-date and that they are on the correct waiting list.”
The latest incident comes just weeks after a new home specially built for nine-year-old disabled boy Jessy Clark was one of two properties attacked in the Reford Grove area of Antrim, which is close to Ballycraigy estate, by an LVF-linked gang.
The child, who suffers from spina bifida, has a range of other complex medical needs.
Around the same time it emerged that several families were forced to flee the loyalist Ballycraigy area in Antrim after their homes were targeted by the gang.
Windows in homes and cars were broken while “local tenants only” graffiti was daubed on boarding in the area.
Threatening posters stating “have had enough of undesirables and immigrants being placed in our community” were also put up in the area.
