IRA graves daubed with fascist graffiti

Graffiti in support of fascist extremists Combat 18 has been daubed on republican monuments in a cemetery in west Belfast.

Vandals painted slogans in support of the hardline group in the republican plot at Milltown cemetery on Wednesday night.

Two monuments were yesterday afternoon still emblazoned with ‘C18’.

Sinn Fein Assembly member Paul Maskey said: “Overnight, racist and sectarian slogans, along with Combat 18 graffiti, were daubed on the republican plot in the cemetery. A considerable amount of damage has been done to the graves.”

One of the monuments commemorates Irish republicans who fought on the anti-fascist side in the Spanish civil war and the other those “who struggled and died for the establishment of a socialist republic by the Workers Party”.

Ulster Unionist councillor Jim Rodgers condemned the graffiti. “This is absolutely deplorable. It’s bad enough attacking any property, but whenever it’s a cemetery, its disgraceful, appalling and sickening,” he said.

“The dead should be able to rest in peace. I am angry at hearing that this has happened in Milltown cemetery.

“It doesn’t matter where anti-social behaviour is happening — it is always wrong.”

Police said the vandalism had not been reported to them but said they would follow up any details they were given.

From The Belfast Telegraph