West Belfast Sinn Féin Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Bobby Sands mural attacked on eve of anniversary

Published: 3 May, 2009

''How could any right thinking person even contemplate vandalising a mural of one of the greatest Irishmen that ever lived?''

Those were the words of Twinbrook Sinn Fein councillor Charlene O'Hara in the wake of the paint attack on the mural of IRA Hunger Striker Bobby Sands in Twinbrook in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Luminous yellow paint was painted on the image of the face of the legendary Twinbrook Republican.

Speaking after the attack, Ms O'Hara said:

''Bobby Sands represents everything that a person should aspire to be.

''He loved the Twinbrook community and he loved the people within it.

''His live was dedicated to creating a United Ireland and he gave his life so that we could live in a better society.

''Whoever carried out this attack is the lowest of the low.

''This is the latest in a series of attacks on Sinn Fein offices and Republican memorials.

''Our Connolly House, Sevastopol Street and Turf Lodge advice centres have been paint bombed.

''These centres are used to provide advice and assistance to members of the West Belfast community.

''When they attack our offices they attack the people of West Belfast.

''In the Connolly House attack a Roll of Honour plaque was smashed to pieces.

''In the Turf Lodge attack the sign with the face of Countess Markievicz was destroyed.

''Paint was also smeared all over the ground and the flagpole in the Turf Lodge Republican memorial garden.

''The mural in memory of the Gibraltar and Milltown Martyrs at the top of Monagh Road had the initials RIRA sprayed on it.

''The families who we have spoken to are saddened and disgusted at these attacks, which are also attacks on them, but they are absolutely determined, like we are, that they will not deflect us from working to achieve the United Ireland that our martyrs died for.

''In 2 days time, this Tuesday, 5th May, we will commemorate the 28th anniversary of Bobby Sands death on Hunger Strike.

''I would call on the people of Twinbrook and the people of the Colin area to come out onto the Stewartstown Road on Tuesday at 5pm to attend the black flag vigil in Bobby's memory and to show their disgust at this vile attack.''