Police Appeal Over Hate-Motivated Damage to Street Sign

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has launched an investigation and issued an appeal for information after a report of hate-motivated criminal damage to an Irish language street sign in east Belfast.

The incident occurred on Saturday, 11 October, at approximately 8.15pm on the sign to Shandon Park. The white sign was attacked with an angle grinder, which was used to remove the Irish language portion of the bilingual sign.

The PSNI is urging anyone with information about the incident to come forward. Witnesses or those who may have relevant details are asked to contact police on the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference 1298 11/10/25. Information can also be provided using the online non-emergency reporting form via the PSNI website. Alternatively, details can be passed on anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or through their online form. The damage is being treated seriously by the PSNI as a hate crime motivated by hostility or prejudice.

Concern Over Handling Of Police Ombudsman Investigation

Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) Justice Spokesman Doug Beattie MC MLA has expressed serious concern over the handling of the ongoing investigation involving the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland (PONI).

Mr Beattie stated that the two-year investigation has “undermined the office" of the PONI. A file had been sent to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) in June to determine if the evidential test was met and if it was in the public interest to prosecute. The PPS subsequently decided not to prosecute as there was “no prospect of a conviction". The UUP MLA said it was “difficult to understand the wider rationale for this decision" and stressed the vital need for an independent report to lay out what happened in the original incident and how the entire matter was handled.

To this end, Mr Beattie confirmed he will be writing to the Director of the PPS to request a meeting to discuss the case and ensure wider public confidence in the decision.

He also highlighted a crucial accountability gap revealed by the saga, namely the severe lack of any power to suspend a Police Ombudsman. He called on the The Executive Office (TEO) to urgently address this issue.

Mental Health Strategy Implementation in Doubt Due to Funding

SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA has urged the Executive to get serious about funding mental health treatment after it emerged that 80% of the Mental Health Strategy is unlikely to proceed due to a lack of financial backing.

The South Down MLA stated that anyone struggling with poor mental health knows that the current funding is "nowhere near enough". He recalled that the Mental Health Strategy was announced with great publicity by the previous Health Minister, but cautioned that securing its funding was always going to be a "huge challenge".

Mr McGrath acknowledged the significant pressure on the health service but argued that failing to allocate funding to mental health services will ultimately "cost us more money in the long run". He warned that allowing mental health problems to worsen has a greater impact on patients, creating challenges with work and other aspects of their lives.

He praised the community and voluntary sector for "stepping up" to provide help across the North, calling their work "inspiring". However, he stressed that they should not have to carry the burden in the absence of necessary services. Mr McGrath concluded by stating that it is long past the time to treat mental health with the seriousness it deserves, and called for Executive funding to finally back up this commitment.