Homophobic graffitiat Gelvin Grangeremoved: DCC

The local authority was alerted to the graffiti after the PUP in Londonderry condemned those behind it and described it as a ‘hate crime.’

Local representative, Nigel Gardiner, said the party was notified of the homophobic graffiti having appeared at Gelvin Grange in the Irish Street area last Wednesday.

A spokesperson for Derry City Council said its Cleansing Department has advised a team has now removed the offending vandalism.

The spokesperson told the Sentinel: “Our cleansing department...have already removed the offensive graffiti at Gelvin Grange.”

Mr Gardiner said he had contacted Derry City Council with a view to getting the graffiti removed.

He stated: “Graffiti has appeared up round the football pitches at Gelvin Grange of a homophobic nature, which is a hate crime.

“I’ve already been in touch with Council this morning (Thursday, November 20) and they are going to come up and look at it.”

According to Mr Gardiner the local authority promised to remove the offensive graffiti but advised that high pressure hosing would be required in order for it to do so.

Meanwhile, the PUP representative also condemned paramilitary graffiti, which, he said, had appeared in Nelson Drive.

“Graffiti has appeared in Nelson Drive and again the Council were spoken to and are going to look at it and the PUP has made it quite clear that we will fully support the removal of that graffiti and we will be in attendance to ensure that work is carried out and all this graffiti is removed.

“Basically, it’s about putting pride back in the communities and for the communities to take ownership.

“It’s of a paramilitary nature. It’s unacceptable. The PUP have made this clear on numerous occasions and now we are actually highlighting it and we want it removed,” said Mr Gardiner.