PSNI treating theft of Union Flag before GAA match as ‘sectarian motivated hate crime’

A PSNI spokesman added: "Enquiries are continuing and at this stage, the incident is being treated as a sectarian motivated hate crime."

A video circulating on social media appears to be taken by someone walking along a rural road as part of a crowd. Cars are parked on both sides of the road.

The camera then pans right to centre on a young man in the background climbing a white flag pole situated in the middle of a field. The pole is flying the Union Flag.

As he reaches the top and pulls the flag down, those walking along the road break into spontaneous cheering.

The DUP claims the flag was taken down when GAA supporters were parking nearby.

West Tyrone DUP MLA Tom Buchanan said those who entered private property and removed the flag should be investigated by the police and sanctioned by the GAA.

Mr Buchanan said he knows the family who own the land and has spoken with them about "this incident of hate towards them".

He added: "This Union Flag was removed when supporters attending a County GAA match in Omagh yesterday were parking nearby. A man entered private property and removed the Union Flag.

"This was theft and it will be a matter for the police. But there is also an issue of leadership. The GAA crowd can be heard cheering as the Union Flag is removed. Any supporter found to be involved in this incident should be sanctioned by the Ulster Council.

"I will be writing to the Ulster Council drawing their attention to the issue. Also if the man who stole the flag was attending the match, what action will be taken against him by the GAA?”

As we enter the week of the Coronation of Charles III, he said, many families will display their Union Flags on their property.

"It is abhorrent that anyone should feel they have a right to enter private property and remove any flag. People have a right to fly whatever flag they wish and should have their right protected and respected by all.

"This is also a matter of political leadership as the local nationalist controlled council refuses to fly the Union Flag and respect those ratepayers with a British identity. It is high time Sinn Fein condemned actions such as this but also gave leadership in Councils by allowing the Union Flag to fly in its proper place, after all it is British taxpayers who fund our public services.”

The News Letter reached out to the GAA at national, provincial and county level, however there was no response at the time of going to press.

The PSNI says that a hate and signal crime includes damage to property, where it is perceived the perpetrator’s hostility or prejudice against any person or property is “on the grounds of the victim’s ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, political opinion or disability”.