Attack On Newry Church Treated As 'Hate Crime'

Police are treating an attack on a church in Newry as a hate crime.

It comes after the First Presbyterian Church at the town's John Mitchell Place was targeted on the evening of Wednesday 27 March.

Significant damage was caused to a window, which had only recently been replaced, during the attack which police described as "senseless".

"For any place of worship to be attacked is not just an insult to the whole community of Newry, but a deplorable hate crime that has NO place in our society," a PSNI spokesperson said.

The investigation is at an early stage, but anyone who was in the area last night and who witnessed any suspicious activity is urged to contact officers on non-emergency line 101 quoting reference number 408 of 28/03/19.

Ulster Unionist Councillor David Taylor has expressed his disgust at the "despicable and evil act".

"It is difficult to comprehend the mindset of someone who would desecrate any place of worship and there is understandable outrage within the local community that this incident has occurred," Councillor Taylor said.

"It is all the more significant given that this window was only repaired a matter of weeks ago following damage caused to it in a previous incident which occurred last year.

"This will no doubt cause great hurt to the congregation and it is extremely regrettable that they will have to incur further cost to repair the damage which has been caused to their church building.

"It is vital that the perpetrators of this sickening act are brought to justice and as such, I would appeal to anyone with information on the attack to report it to the Police immediately."





(JG/CM)