'UVF' graffiti on Irish language signs investigated as hate crime, police in Co Derry say

POLICE in Co Derry are treating the targeting of bilingual road signs with UVF graffiti as a hate crime.

Signage on the Ballyhanedin Road in Claudy, which features Irish and English, has been daubed with ‘UVF’ in what a local assembly candidate has dubbed a “disgraceful” act of vandalism.

The SDLP’s Cara Hunter said she reported the graffiti yesterday morning to police after spotting it on several of the road’s signs.

“This is unacceptable and the local people will not put up with these territorial markings,” she said in a tweet.

“I have reported this so it will be down shortly.”

'UVF' graffiti on Irish language signs 'investigated as hate crime'https://t.co/G88iPH7EMi

— The Irish News (@irish_news) April 12, 2022

A PSNI spokesperson said last night police were making enquiries into the matter.

“These incidents, which are believed to have been caused sometime in the last two months, are being treated as hate crimes,” the spokesperson said, urging anyone with information to call police on the non-emergency 101 number.