English-Irish street signs vandalism remains ongoing issue

Speaking at the September 8 Environment committee meeting of Mid Ulster District Council, the Sinn Féin representative for Cookstown DEA commented: “You’ll recall at the last meeting in July I had raised the criminal damage to signs on the Ballinderry Bridge Road in Coagh, and also to Killymoon Street in Cookstown.

“I also asked a question at that time about whether there had been any information in relation to a person who was arrested for the criminal damage of a sign in Coagh, and asked whether that legal process had concluded or not. So, I just wanted to ask for an update on that

“Unfortunately, since our last meeting, the sign in Ballinderry Bridge Road in Coagh has been damaged on numerous occasions. It’s been defaced with UVF stickers.

“There’s different types of cable-tie flags all over it, and also a sign in my own town here, Woodland Drive in Cookstown, has been damaged in recent weeks.

“So, I want to highlight this once again, criminal damage that costs the ratepayer.

“And just one final query in relation to a meeting that was held with TUV representatives. I’m aware of this meeting being held in Coagh.

“It was highlighted on social media that they met with council officers and members of the PSNI, and it was in relation to our dual-language signage.

“So, I just want to know if officers can give me any update in relation to that as well.”

Head of Property Services, Terry Scullion told the Cookstown DEA representative: “To come back to the first point raised by Councillor McNamee, I understand that the legal process in relation to the criminal damage referred to, the sign in Coagh, has concluded.

“The individual was dealt with by the police and costs were recovered for the damage to the actual sign. I understand that brings that to a conclusion at this stage.

“In respect of the two nameplates that you mentioned, Ballinderry Bridge and Woodland Drive, we’re certainly aware that there’s ongoing damage to both of those signs and we respond to that as we can.

“The third issue there, in relation to the meeting with TUV representatives and the police, council officers did attend a meeting.

“The purpose of that meeting, I think, had come via the [Policing and] Community Safety Partnership.

“The officers involved certainly highlighted the council policy in relation to dual-language signage. They also made clear the damage that had been caused to the signage historically and provided an update in that regard.”