NI Water to remove sectarian graffiti at reservoir

However, Mr Drake claimed NI Water had been 'evasive' when the issue was first raised and called on NI Water to accept their responsibility in tackling the issue of graffiti.

He said when he first raised the issue NI Water told him they were acting on police advice in refusing to remove the slogans.

"But when I pointed out that the PSNI had said it had absolutely no knowledge about the NI Water claims, the graffiti was erased overnight" he said.

"Clarification is needed urgently if the situation is not to get out of control" he said. "When I initially raised the issue of the anti-Catholic and hardline Loyalist slogans on the wall of the reservoir with NI Water I was provided with what I can only describe as an evasive answer.

"The sick graffiti had apparently been in place for some days when I raised the matter in the form of a formal query to NI Water. I demanded the slogans be got rid of.

"But when a spokesperson for the company finally came back the message was astonishing. NI Water said they would not be removing the graffiti on the advice of the PSNI. This excuse was subsequently very firmly dismissed by a police spokesperson.

"I find it absolutely incredible a company with a budget of tens millions of pounds cannot take responsibility for what is essentially maintenance of its own property. Equally important is that everybody in Northern Ireland is effectively a shareholder in what is a government controlled organisation. We have a right as taxpayers to demand that this sort of thing is not allowed to happen on our property."

A spokesperson for NI Water said they were "aware" of the graffiti and that it would be removed. "NI Water is aware of the graffiti at the Stoneyford Reservoir, the graffiti is due to be removed within the next few weeks," she said.

"NI Water takes seriously any acts of vandalism and anti-social behaviour at its sites and ensures that essential maintenance work at our properties is a priority. NI Water liaises on a regular basis with the PSNI on matters pertaining to anti-social issues at our sites and seeks their advice with regard to the security of our staff when dealing with contentious issues."