Michael Gove graffiti: PSNI investigating name and address daubed on hording in loyalist area

The graffiti appeared on hording in south Belfast on Wednesday.

“We do not discuss the security of individuals and no inference should be drawn from this, however we would never ignore something that could put an individual at risk," said the PSNI.

Mr. Gove is a senior minister in Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government.

Along with vice-president of the European Commission, Maroš Šefčovič, Mr. Gove co-chairs the EU-UK Joint Committee.

The committee is supposed to act as tool through which either the United Kingdom or the European Union can communicate issues concerning Brexit and work together to find solutions.

The grace period is part of the Northern Ireland Protocol which in turn is contained within the UK's withdrawal agreement with the EU.

The European Commission condemned the unilateral action taken by the UK.

“This is the second time that the UK Government is set to breach international law.

“This also constitutes a clear departure from the constructive approach that has prevailed up until now, thereby undermining both the work of the Joint Committee and the mutual trust necessary for solution-oriented co-operation.”

A few hours after the UK announced its decision to extend the grace period from April 1 to October 1 an umbrella group called Loyalist Communities Council who represent the UVF, UDA and Red Hand Commando wrote to Prime Minister Boris Johnson telling him that they had withdrawn their support for the Good Friday Agreement.

The letter also stated the trade border in the Irish Sea undermined the “basis on which the Combined Loyalist Military Command (CLMC) agreed their 1994 ceasefire and subsequent support for the Belfast Agreement”.

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