PSNI probing new lines of enquiry over alleged criminal damage to portrait of DUP mayor
The portrait of Lord Wallace Browne was damaged during an event at City Hall last October.
It was taken down from a wall in the building and its glass was damaged. The incident happened during an event celebrating 20 years of west Belfast Irish language group Glór na Móna.
Repair work cost ratepayers almost £2,500.
First Minister Michelle O'Neill previously told MLAs that a Sinn Fein employee, working in the Assembly, had 'made the party chief whip aware of their involvement' in the incident and the PSNI was notified. It has been reported that the individual is the son of a Sinn Fein MLA.
The alleged criminal damage has been treated as a hate crime by the PSNI.
In March the PSNI said their investigation into the incident had concluded and a file had been sent to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS).
However, it is understood that, following discussions between the PSNI and the Public Prosecution Service, police are pursuing further lines of inquiry, which have not yet been completed.
Once they are, the PPS will evaluate any further evidence and issue a decision.
A PSNI spokesperson said: 'A request for further information was received by police on behalf of the Public Prosecution Service, following an investigation into the circumstances surrounding criminal damage caused to artwork in Belfast City Hall on October 19 2024.'
DUP MLA Joanne Bunting said the matter cannot be forgotten.
'This was a wanton sectarian attack against the portrait of a unionist Lord Mayor," she said.
"It took place within a shared civic space in the heart of Belfast and it must not go unpunished.'
She added: "People are entitled to question why so much time has elapsed yet a decision has not been reached in terms of prosecution.
"Ultimately of course it is the outcome which is important and many will be watching this case closely given the PPS's record.
"We will not interfere in any live investigation, but neither will we allow this matter to be forgotten about."
Following last October's incident, DUP councillor Dean McCullough said Lord Browne 'showed everyone across our city respect', but 'sadly that respect was not reciprocated'.
At the time, Glór na Móna said it was 'extremely disappointed' about what happened.
Belfast History Explained: Who was Mary Ann McCracken?
'Glór na Móna had no knowledge of this taking place and only became aware of this on Monday, October 21, when contacted by council staff,' a spokesperson said.
'This is completely contrary to the ethos and principles of our organisation and the spirit of our successful anniversary celebratory event.
'We are extremely disappointed that this took place after what was an incredibly positive evening. We are assisting Belfast City Council with their investigation into the circumstances of this damage.'
Lord Browne's portrait was painted in 2007 by renowned artist Zohar Arnon, who was born in Kazakhstan in 1945 and grew up in northern Israel.
Some of his most famous work over the years has depicted the conflict over Palestine. He has also painted portraits of public figures, including Princess Diana.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
North Wales Chronicle
5 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Irish leaders welcome clarity on EU-US trade deal and pharma tariffs cap of 15%
Taoiseach Micheal Martin said the trade agreement represented a 'significant win' for the EU while Tanaiste Simon Harris said it offered an 'important shield' for Irish exporters. The EU struck a trade deal with the US on July 27, five days before Mr Trump said a 30% tariff would kick in for the bloc. The deal sees 15% tariffs on most EU goods including cars, semiconductors and pharmaceuticals entering the US. There are 'zero for zero' tariffs on a number of products including aircrafts and aircraft parts, some agricultural goods and certain chemicals – as well as EU purchases of US energy worth 750 billion dollars over three years. In the aftermath of the deal, it was not clear whether 15% would remain the rate for the pharma sector or be increased. The EU-US statement published on Thursday said that as of September 1, the US will apply a maximum tariff rate of 15% on generic pharmaceuticals, their ingredients and chemical precursors. 'The United States intends to promptly ensure that the tariff rate, comprised of the MFN (Most Favored Nation) tariff and the tariff imposed pursuant to Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, applied to originating goods of the European Union subject to Section 232 actions on pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and lumber does not exceed 15%.' Mr Harris, Ireland's deputy premier and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, welcomed the assurances for the pharmaceutical and semiconductor sectors. 'We welcome clarity that the deal includes a single, all-inclusive 15% tariff on EU goods,' Mr Harris said. 'We also now have assurance that this rate will extend to pharmaceuticals and semiconductors. 'This provides an important shield to Irish exporters that could have been subject to much larger tariffs pending the outcomes of Section 232 US investigations into these sectors.' Mr Harris said this offered a 'first step' to a more 'comprehensive and formal agreement with the US in the future'. 'Our intention now is to see what other carve outs can be made in areas of interest for Irish exporters.' Irish premier Micheal Martin said the statement brought 'greater clarity and certainty' to what the EU-US agreement would mean in practice. 'This is especially important for enterprises that either import from or export to the US,' he said. 'Given the scale of the pharmaceutical and semiconductor sectors in Ireland, it is important that the Joint Statement confirms that 15% is a ceiling that will apply to EU exports in these areas in all circumstances, including when the current US Section 232 investigations are concluded. 'While I have been clear all along that I do not support tariffs, this is a significant win for the EU. 'Given the significance of the airline sector to Ireland, a specific carve-out for aircraft and aircraft parts is also welcome. 'There are areas where further work remains to be done, including a potential carve-out for med-tech products and spirits. 'I hope this will be advanced as quickly as possible. We will continue to advocate for these sectors given their significant importance to our domestic economy.' Paul Sweetman, chief executive of the American Chamber of Commerce Ireland, welcomed the joint statement as providing 'greater clarity to business on the future of the transatlantic trading partnership, worth over four billion dollars daily'. 'The framework brings more certainty and allows for further work to grow our mutually beneficial economic relationship,' he said. 'In supporting the US-Ireland and US-EU trading relationships into the future, we must also focus on enhancing competitiveness. 'Now is the time to make smart policy and investment decisions to deliver critical infrastructure projects, meet future skills needs, bolster our RD&I ecosystem, and secure Ireland's position as a digital regulatory hub. 'AmCham will continue to work closely with the Irish Government, the US administration and our EU and US partners in growing investment on both sides of the Atlantic.'
North Wales Chronicle
5 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Diane Abbott advised Jeremy Corbyn against founding new party, event told
Ms Abbott, who served as Mr Corbyn's shadow home secretary when he was Labour leader, said she had spoken to him before its launch, and said it was not a good idea. Speaking at an event at the Edinburgh Book Festival, the current longest-serving female MP said: 'There were people around Jeremy encouraging him to set up a new party, and I told him not to. 'It's very difficult under first-past-the-post system for a new party to absolutely win. If it wasn't first-past-the-post, then you can see how a new party could come through, but I understand why he did it.' Ms Abbott said she thought the party, formed by her long-time friend Independent MP Mr Corbyn (Islington North) alongside Independent MP Zarah Sultana (Coventry South), would outperform people's expectations. It was launched last month, but is still without a formal name. She said she believed it would take advantage of a broader discontent with politics in Britain. She paid tribute to Mr Corbyn and Ms Sultana but said: 'At this point in time, it's difficult to see how a brand new party wins. 'However, I think Jeremy's party is going to do a lot better than people think because a lot of people who are not necessarily terribly left-wing people, are a tiny bit disappointed about the way we've gone in the past year.' The MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington indicated her disappointment with the Labour Government. She had the whip withdrawn for the second time in two years in July, after she expressed a lack of regret about comments to the Observer in 2023 that suggested that Jewish, Irish and Traveller people experience prejudice, but not racism. However, she implied she would not join Mr Corbyn's party. Ms Abbott said: 'It's a tricky state of play. I wouldn't have thought that you'd have a Labour Government and they'd be cutting winter fuel allowance for the elderly and benefits for the disabled.' She was also critical of the Government's proscription of Palestine Action and labelled the decision 'a complete disgrace'. 'What they are seeking to do is proscribe protest as such,' she said. 'I mean, we all saw the pictures of the people in Trafalgar Square – 500 people? Half of them over 60. Come on, these are terrorists? I think this is an attempt to bear down on (protest).' She added her more than 40 years in Labour meant it was too late to leave it. She was elected to Parliament in 1987, and was the only black female MP in the Commons for a decade until Labour's landslide under Tony Blair. In response to a question about whether she thought she would ever be accepted 'at the heart' of the Labour Party, she replied: 'I think I am at the heart of the Labour Party, it's other people who aren't.' Ms Abbott, whose book A Woman Like Me, was the subject of the interview in the Scottish capital by campaigner Talat Yaqoob, also told the audience of her anger at not being called by Commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle in the aftermath of racist comments by Conservative Party donor Frank Hester in 2024. She said she had stood during a Prime Minister's Question session more than 40 times to be called to speak, after Sir Keir Starmer, Rishi Sunak and Sir Ed Davey had all spoken about the incident. Mr Hester was reported to have said Ms Abbott made him want to 'hate all black women' and that she 'should be shot'. The remarks brought widespread condemnation, including from Sir Keir, but she told the event her office was used to receiving racist abuse. 'I've been an MP for 38 years, and custom practice in the chamber is if you're being talked about, you get called. It's just a courtesy. I was so shocked that I wasn't called. 'But I heard later from someone who had reason to know, that what happened was that Rishi didn't want me called, because (Hester) was a Tory donor and it would look bad for them, and I'm afraid Keir Starmer didn't want me called because he wanted to milk the issue (for) political advantage, without mentioning me.' She said Sir Keir had approached her after the questions session and asked what he could do to help. 'I said, 'Yes, you can restore the whip'. And as if he hadn't heard, he said, 'Is there anything I can do for you?' It was like he was deaf. And I said, 'Yes, you can restore the whip', and he realised I wasn't going to play that game and he went off.'
Glasgow Times
5 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Diane Abbott advised Jeremy Corbyn against founding new party, event told
Ms Abbott, who served as Mr Corbyn's shadow home secretary when he was Labour leader, said she had spoken to him before its launch, and said it was not a good idea. Speaking at an event at the Edinburgh Book Festival, the current longest-serving female MP said: 'There were people around Jeremy encouraging him to set up a new party, and I told him not to. 'It's very difficult under first-past-the-post system for a new party to absolutely win. If it wasn't first-past-the-post, then you can see how a new party could come through, but I understand why he did it.' Ms Abbott said she thought the party, formed by her long-time friend Independent MP Mr Corbyn (Islington North) alongside Independent MP Zarah Sultana (Coventry South), would outperform people's expectations. It was launched last month, but is still without a formal name. She said she believed it would take advantage of a broader discontent with politics in Britain. Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and then-shadow home secretary Diane Abbott during a visit to Finsbury Park Mosque in 2019 (Victoria Jones/PA She paid tribute to Mr Corbyn and Ms Sultana but said: 'At this point in time, it's difficult to see how a brand new party wins. 'However, I think Jeremy's party is going to do a lot better than people think because a lot of people who are not necessarily terribly left-wing people, are a tiny bit disappointed about the way we've gone in the past year.' The MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington indicated her disappointment with the Labour Government. She had the whip withdrawn for the second time in two years in July, after she expressed a lack of regret about comments to the Observer in 2023 that suggested that Jewish, Irish and Traveller people experience prejudice, but not racism. However, she implied she would not join Mr Corbyn's party. Ms Abbott said: 'It's a tricky state of play. I wouldn't have thought that you'd have a Labour Government and they'd be cutting winter fuel allowance for the elderly and benefits for the disabled.' She was also critical of the Government's proscription of Palestine Action and labelled the decision 'a complete disgrace'. Diane Abbott in 1986 when she was Hackney North and Stoke Newington Labour election candidate (PA) 'What they are seeking to do is proscribe protest as such,' she said. 'I mean, we all saw the pictures of the people in Trafalgar Square – 500 people? Half of them over 60. Come on, these are terrorists? I think this is an attempt to bear down on (protest).' She added her more than 40 years in Labour meant it was too late to leave it. She was elected to Parliament in 1987, and was the only black female MP in the Commons for a decade until Labour's landslide under Tony Blair. In response to a question about whether she thought she would ever be accepted 'at the heart' of the Labour Party, she replied: 'I think I am at the heart of the Labour Party, it's other people who aren't.' Ms Abbott, whose book A Woman Like Me, was the subject of the interview in the Scottish capital by campaigner Talat Yaqoob, also told the audience of her anger at not being called by Commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle in the aftermath of racist comments by Conservative Party donor Frank Hester in 2024. She said she had stood during a Prime Minister's Question session more than 40 times to be called to speak, after Sir Keir Starmer, Rishi Sunak and Sir Ed Davey had all spoken about the incident. Mr Hester was reported to have said Ms Abbott made him want to 'hate all black women' and that she 'should be shot'. The remarks brought widespread condemnation, including from Sir Keir, but she told the event her office was used to receiving racist abuse. 'I've been an MP for 38 years, and custom practice in the chamber is if you're being talked about, you get called. It's just a courtesy. I was so shocked that I wasn't called. 'But I heard later from someone who had reason to know, that what happened was that Rishi didn't want me called, because (Hester) was a Tory donor and it would look bad for them, and I'm afraid Keir Starmer didn't want me called because he wanted to milk the issue (for) political advantage, without mentioning me.' She said Sir Keir had approached her after the questions session and asked what he could do to help. 'I said, 'Yes, you can restore the whip'. And as if he hadn't heard, he said, 'Is there anything I can do for you?' It was like he was deaf. And I said, 'Yes, you can restore the whip', and he realised I wasn't going to play that game and he went off.'
