Anger after 'Down' graffiti appears on school mobile

The words ‘Down for Sam’ had been scrawled in red paint on the gable wall of a mobile classroom some time during Saturday night.

Principal Mr Brian Wilson said he was “very disappointed” at the damage caused to facilities which were there for the purposes of education.

“I am very disappointed that anyone would want to trespass on private property and cause damage to our school facilities,” he said.

“It will cost time and money to correct. This is a resource which we cannot afford and such anti-social behaviour will only impinge on the education of children in our community.”

South Down UUP MLA John McCallister said he was angered when he viewed the graffiti which he described as an act of “wanton vandalism”.

“This does nothing to help community relations in Rathfriland,” he said. “I openly wished the Down GAA team every success for Sunday’s final and I was disappointed at their narrow defeat.

“I am deeply concerned about this act of wanton vandalism, which was obviously intended to be provocative. This was not done in the name of sport and I hope those responsible are brought to book.”

Rathfriland councillor Liz Ingram said she condemned all acts of vandalism, from whatever source they came, and said such slogans were “degrading for the buildings, dirty looking and totally unnecessary”.

“We don’t want to see buildings, particularly school buildings, vandalised in this way,” she said. “Hopefully, this is just a one-off and it won’t happen again.

Anyone who has any information should let the police know immediately.”