'Walkers plinth damage a nuisance'-says Alderman William Hay

Whilst attacks on the monument, flattened by an IRA bomb in 1973, had ceased in recent months, an upsurge of anti-social behaviour by underage drinkers in the area is being blamed for the new outbreak of vandalism.

Mr Hay said: "It is a long time since we had attacks from paint bombs, it's only in the last few weeks that it has started up again."

The monument, situated just yards from the Apprentice Boys Memorial Hall has been heavily splattered in paint from both inside and outside

the Walls.

Willam Hay, a member of the Apprentice Boys of Derry, told the Sentinel: "It is a nuisance for people who use the Memorial Hall and for people who use the area to park their cars. I know of one instance when a man had his car scratched the entire length of the body.

"It is hard to know what the answer is to this type of behaviour."

There are plans to get Walkers Plinth cleaned before the Apprentice Boys parade on August 12, and William Hay said: "Once again it is going to cost money to get this cleaned and the paint is not that easy to remove.

"The tragedy is that the nuisance is being caused by drink and the anti-social behaviour of some of the youths who are as young as 14 or 15."

Mr Hay also commented that once again there have been successful talks amongst the relevant parties with regard to next Monday's July 12 Orange Order parade.

He commented that traders, the City Centre Initiative and other parties involved had moved to ensure that the parade leaving the city early in the morning and returning in the evening would go off peacefully.

"The morning parade will leave before the shops in the city are open and return when the shops are closed. Like the GAA parade in the city last weekend, which was exceptionally well handled, the Orange parade should be regarded in the same manner. In other words the city centre should be a shared space where everyone can celebrate their culture."