Larne War Memorial attack condemned

White paint was thrown during an overnight attack on the monument in the Inver Road area of Larne sometime between the evening of Friday 17 June and the morning of Saturday 18 June.

The memorial commemorates those who died in the two world wars.

The attack comes just a day after an Easter Rising memorial in Carnlough was removed by Mid and East Antrim Council, after it had been erected without the approval of the local authority.

DUP Alderman Gregg McKeen branded the attack in Larne as “senseless and appalling”, adding that those responsible should be “ashamed” of their actions.

“With this coming so soon after the removal of the Easter Rising monument, people will inevitably draw the conclusion that the two incidents are connected,” he added.

East Antrim MLA Gordon Lyons said: “I am appalled at this attack which is an insult to the memories of all of those who fought and died for our country.

“I am pleased that the police are at the memorial and are conducting an investigation. I hope that this will result in those responsible being found and being brought to justice. I would of course urge anyone who saw anything suspicious in the vicinity at that time to contact the PSNI.

“Council will begin a clean up operation as soon as the PSNI are finished at the scene and trust that the memorial will be restored as soon as possible.”

TUV Larne Councillor Ruth Wilson said: “I am disgusted that paint was splattered over the memorial. It is all the more offensive in this centenary year of the sacrifice of the Somme. The louts responsible for this would be well advised to spend some time studying Irish history and learning of those who fought and died from across the island of Ireland - Nationalist and Unionist, Roman Catholic and Protestant.

“I would appeal for anyone with information to come forward to the PSNI.”

Sinn Fein MLA Oliver McMullan who also condemned the attack on the war memorial in Larne and said: “On behalf of the nationalist and republican community I want to totally condemn attacks on any memorials.

“No matter what else has happened, this sort of thing is repulsive and cannot be justified. Two wrongs do not make a right.”