Police are investigating the removal of a bilingual street sign featuring Irish in east Belfast as a sectarian hate crime.
The sign was removed last week from Knock Eden Park in the city’s Rosetta area, after having been installed by Belfast City Council earlier this year.
Its placement was carried out under the council’s new policy that makes it easier for residents to have a bilingual sign erected in their street.
Last December, the council’s People and Communities Committee had agreed a second survey of Knock Eden Park residents after the initial consultation saw 55 in favour of the bilingual sign, 46 against it, and 11 having no preference.
However, a majority of 81 residents did not respond to the survey, prompting the council committee vote for a second consultation.
That was later overturned at a full council meeting in January, and it was agreed the sign would be installed.
Under the new policy, a consultation on bilingual signs can be triggered by just one street resident - or a local councillor - requesting it. If 15% of residents agree, then the sign is erected, and non-responses are no longer considered votes against it.
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The previous policy saw 33.3% of residents required to start the consultation, and 66.6% needed to back a new sign before it was put in place.
The removal of the sign in Knock Eden Park comes after a bilingual sign at Cranmore Gardens in south Belfast was defaced with paint earlier this week.
Unfortunately the Knock Eden Park bilingual street sign has been removed again. I have reported this hate crime to the PSNI. I have also contacted the council to have it replaced ASAP. Residents are understandably upset at another attack on diversity and culture. pic.twitter.com/3vSMu78BlL
— Stevie Jenkins (@steviejenkinsSF) July 16, 2024
Speaking of the latest incident in a social media post, Sinn Féin councillor for the Lisnasharragh area, Stevie Jenkins, said: “Unfortunately the Knock Eden Park bilingual street sign has been removed again.
“I have reported this hate crime to the PSNI. I have also contacted the council to have it replaced ASAP. Residents are understandably upset at another attack on diversity and culture.”
A PSNI spokesperson said: “At this stage, the incident is being treated as a sectarian motivated hate crime.
“Police would appeal to anyone with any information in relation to this matter, to contact them on 101 quoting reference number 1559 07/07/24.”
