An attack on a Protestant church in the Ballyarnett area of the city at the weekend has been widely condemned.
A member of the congregation painting over the graffiti at Ballyarnett Presbyterian Church.
Sectarian and pro-IRA slogans were daubed on the front wall of Ballyarnett Presbyterian Church on Racecourse Road between 2.30pm on Saturday and 10.30 am yesterday morning.
Members of the congregation spent yesterday painting over the graffiti.
It is the second time the church has been targeted in the past 12 months. In previous incidents, the hall in the church grounds had its windows smashed and graffiti was daubed on the pillars at entrance to the church grounds.
Church minister, Rev Alastair Rosborough, said some of the wording was so vulgar it was not repeatable.
He added: “This is supposed to be the year when this city is the UK City of Culture and we’re being told, you’re not welcome here.”
Foyle SDLP MP Mark Durkan said those who carried out the attack were not just defacing the church but “besmirching” the name of the community.
He added: “We must unite in expressing our disgust at, and rejection of, this attack and everything it represents. This type of attack highlights just how primitive and pernicious sectarianism is.”
The city’s Mayor said the attack was “totally unacceptable” in a city that was moving forward in a positive way towards a “more inclusive and shared environment.
The Mayor added: “The attack on Ballyarnett Presbyterian Church has saddened me greatly. I would like to extend my best wishes to the congregation at this time and let them know they have the full support of the wider community in this city.
“There is no support for this type of activity especially at a time when we are making huge steps towards inclusivity and a shared future for all citizens.”
Sinn Fein councillor for the area said Sinn Fein councillor Tony Hassan said those responsible were not republicans and brought “disgrace” upon the local community
He added: “I would call on anyone who was involved in this sectarian action to realise that the founder members of the Republican movement ‘The United Irishmen’ were mainly Presbyterian although I don’t expect these people would know Republican history or ideology.”
Cllr Hassan concluded: “The local community are outraged at this act of vandalism and I would call on people to stop these actions especially against a place of worship.”
William Duncan, a member of the congregation, said those responsible were not representative of the community they came from.
He said: “You never expect this to happen. We were involved in an outreach programme and were involved in distributing, along with all the other Churches, the Gospel of St Luke all around the Ballyarnett area.
“We are outreaching to the community and our Service of Harvest was a great success – people from the community called into to congratulate us.”
He added: “They need to be educated that what they are doing is not what the people from around here want because people have been calling in and telling us, offering us support.”
Deputy First Minister Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness said: “I am totally disgusted at the hate filled bigots who daubed sectarian slogans on Ballyarnett Presbyterian Church.”
SDLP MLA Pat Ramsey condemned the attack as “wanton destruction” and called on anyone with information to “immediately” contact the police.
Police in Derry said they were treating the attack as an incident of “criminal damage.”
A PSNI spokesperson said anyone who may have noticed anyone acting suspiciously in the area or anyone who had any information to contact them at Strand Road on 0845 600 8000.
The spokesperson added: “Or, if someone would prefer to provide information without giving their details, they can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers and speak to them anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
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