Latest news with #MaryAnnMcCracken
BreakingNews.ie
3 days ago
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Dismay after statue of Mary Ann McCracken damaged
Dismay has been expressed after a statue of social activist and campaigner Mary Ann McCracken was damaged. A panel on the base of the statue in the grounds of Belfast City Council was discovered to have been removed on Friday morning, however, it is not known when the damage was caused. Advertisement A Belfast City Council spokesperson said they are aware of the damage and have reported it to police. Damage to part of a base of a statue of Mary Ann McCracken at Belfast City Hall is being investigated (Rebecca Black/PA) 'This will be looked into and replaced as soon as possible,' they said. The statue was unveiled on International Women's Day in March 2024 to recognise Ms McCracken's contribution to the city. Born in the Northern Ireland capital in 1770, Ms McCracken was part of the revival of the Irish language and a supporter of the United Irishmen movement. Advertisement She also worked to help those in poverty, particularly women and children, and campaigned against slavery. Sinn Féin councillor Ronan McLaughlin described the damage to the statue as 'disgraceful', and said it is understood the section removed was written in Irish. 'Even more concerning is that the damage appears to have been aimed specifically at the section inscribed as Gaeilge,' he said. 'This statue stands proudly at City Hall in memory of a remarkable anti-slavery campaigner and Irish republican. Advertisement 'I have spoken with council officials and called for a full investigation into the damage. I have also asked that the matter be referred to the PSNI. 'Those responsible must be held accountable for their actions to ensure this intolerant behaviour is not repeated. People taking photos during the unveiling of the statue in March 2024 (Liam McBurney/PA) 'Sinn Fein is calling for repairs to be carried out as quickly as possible so the statue can continue to be enjoyed by locals and visitors alike.' Belfast SDLP councillor Gary McKeown also condemned the damage. Advertisement 'The vandalism of the Mary Ann McCracken statue is disgusting and will appall people right across Belfast and beyond,' he said. 'It's really important that this is fully investigated and I have spoken to the council to ask that the signage is fixed as soon as possible. 'Belfast has an embarrassingly low number of statues dedicated to women, so the unveiling of this one in the grounds of City Hall last year was particularly welcome and I was delighted to be in attendance. 'This makes it all the more shocking that it appears that someone has attacked it. It's also notable that it was an Irish language inspection on the statue that was targeted, showing even more intolerance. Advertisement 'Mary Ann was an inspirational figure whose contribution to our city still resonates to this day, particularly around her work as a social reformer and opponent of slavery. The principles she stood for remain relevant two centuries later.' Alliance councillor Michael Long said he was disgusted by the damage to the statue. 'Mary Ann McCracken represents everything that is good about the shared history of our city. I was delighted when my proposal for the statue was backed by all parties four years ago, as she speaks to the ideals we all should live up to,' he said. 'Statues such as those of Mary Ann showcase the new, diverse Belfast by looking back to those who took stands and laid the foundations for the freedoms we enjoy today. It makes me despair how anyone could damage a memorial dedicated to someone held in such high regard by so many people. 'I appeal to anyone who has information on this incident to contact police with it immediately.' A PSNI spokesperson said: 'Police received a report at around 12.55pm on Friday, July 18 of suspected criminal damage to a statue in the Donegall Square North area of Belfast. 'Inquiries are ongoing and anyone with any information is asked to contact police on the 101 number, quoting reference 687 of 18/07/25.'
BBC News
3 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Belfast: Mary Ann McCracken statue damaged in suspected vandalism
A statue of anti-slavery campaigner Mary Ann McCracken at the front of Belfast City Hall has been damaged in a suspected act of vandalism. The Irish language section of the four plaques at the base of the statue was left partially torn on Friday morning. The damaged plaque has since been removed, and Belfast City Council say the incident "will be looked into" and the plaque "replaced as soon as possible".The statue was unveiled on International Women's Day in 2024 alongside a statue of suffragist and trade unionist Winifred Carney. 'Disgusting' Belfast SDLP Councillor Gary McKeown condemned the attack on the statue and called for an investigation into the incident. "The vandalism of the Mary Ann McCracken statue is disgusting and will appal people right across Belfast and beyond," he said. "Belfast has an embarrassingly low number of statues dedicated to women, so the unveiling of this one in the grounds of City Hall last year was particularly welcome and I was delighted to be in attendance. He added that it is "notable that it was an Irish language section on the statue that was targeted" which he said shows more intolerance. Who was Mary Ann McCracken? Mary Ann McCracken was born into a middle-class Presbyterian family in 1770 and was one of seven father was a sea captain and her grandfather set up the News Letter, the world's oldest English-language daily went to school with boys and girls - which was unusual at the time - and was heavily involved in the Belfast Charitable Society and Poor House which her family helped to set was a supporter of the United Irishmen, a group that was co-founded by her brother Henry Joy McCracken. He was later executed in 1798 for his role in the failed rebellion. She campaigned all her life to end slavery as an active member of the Belfast Ladies Anti-Slavery Association, even refusing to eat sugar as it was a product of the slave trade and West Indies until her late 80s, she could be found in Belfast's docks where she warned emigrants bound for the United States about died in July 1866 at the age of 96, but her grave remained unmarked until 1909 when her name and the inscription Díleas go h-éag, or Faithful Until Death, was added.
Belfast Telegraph
3 days ago
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
Call for investigation after Belfast's Mary Ann McCracken city hall statue damaged and Irish inscription targeted
There has been condemnation and demands for an investigation over damage done to the statue of an anti-slavery campaigner in the grounds of Belfast City Hall. The statue of campaigner and advocate Mary Ann McCracken was erected outside the building in March last year alongside trade unionist Winifred Carney to mark International Women's Day. Both were the first non-royal women to get statues in the grounds of the building. Sinn Féin councillor Ronan McLaughlin said the statue has been defaced and called for a 'full investigation' into the damage. He also claimed the damage targeted the specific section of the statue which was in Irish. 'It is disgraceful that the statue of Mary Ann McCracken has targeted and damaged,' said the councillor. 'Even more concerning is that the damage appears to have been aimed specifically at the section inscribed as Gaeilge. 'This statue stands proudly at city hall in memory of a remarkable anti-slavery campaigner and Irish republican. Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly recreates a famous Rory McIlroy shot 'I have spoken with council officials and called for a full investigation into the damage. I have also asked that the matter be referred to the PSNI. 'Those responsible must be held accountable for their actions to ensure this intolerant behaviour is not repeated. 'Sinn Féin is calling for repairs to be carried out as quickly as possible so the statue can continue to be enjoyed by locals and visitors alike.' The PSNI and Belfast City Council have been contacted.
