Condemnation as graffiti is plastered on walls of properties in Newcastle

Condemnation as graffiti is plastered on walls of properties in Newcastle

19 February 2020

POLITICIANS have criticised vandals responsible for daubing graffiti on the walls of two homes in Newcastle last weekend.

The gable wall of one of the properties faces onto a graveyard at the Downs Road while another property at nearby Bryansford Gardens was also targeted.

In a separate incident last Friday evening, police officers confiscated a haul of alcohol from children as young as 13 in the resort.

Details of both incidents were posted on the PSNI Down’s Facebook page with details of the alcohol confiscation generating an incredible 1,200 responses. Just 120 people posted comments in relation to the graffiti incident.

Police suspect that the graffiti incidents took place late last Friday evening or in the early hours of Saturday and are keen for anyone who can help with their investigations to come forward.

Both incidents have sparked a sharp rebuke from South Down MLA Colin McGrath and Mournes councillor Willie Clarke.

Mr McGrath said there was no place for what he described as “hateful graffiti” in society, ‘let alone a gable wall overlooking a graveyard’.

He remarked: “This is an act of vandalism and is completely unacceptable. I utterly condemn those behind this. They should be ashamed of their actions.”

Mr McGrath added: “Those responsible do not represent the people of South Down and these actions will not be tolerated.”

Cllr Clarke said many people have been left “disgusted” at the incident.

He said no one in Newcastle will condone what happened and that it was “particularly disturbing” that graffiti was painted on a gable wall of a pensioner’s home next to a graveyard.

Cllr Clarke said graveyards are sacrosanct, places where people go to pay their respects to loved ones. He said visitors attended the graves of loved ones should not have to look at graffiti.

He declared: “I believe that both graffiti incidents are linked and would appeal to anyone who has any information to come forward to assist police with their enquiries.

“I have spoken to the owner of the house at the Downs Road and she is understandably annoyed at what happened. I suspect those who responsible for 

the graffiti incidents were either high or alcohol or drugs or a combination of both.

“No one wants to see anything like this in Newcastle or indeed any other town or village across the district. Such behaviour is totally unacceptable and I do not believe that young people were responsible.”

Cllr Clarke added: “The fact that you cannot make sense of what was daubed on the two homes in Newcastle says it all as far as I am concerned.”

Police say that the weekend graffiti incident at the Downs Road not only resulted in criminal damage to someone’s home, but left an eyesore for people visiting loved ones buried in the graveyard. 

A police spokesman said those responsible have “shown a complete lack of respect”.

Appealing to anyone who can assist officers with their enquiries, the spokesman urged people to get in touch using the non-emergency 101 number, quoting reference numbers 619 and 753 of February 15.