First arrest over damage to Irish language street signage welcomed

The arrest of a 49-year-old man on suspicion of criminal damage to bilingual street signage in Tyroneis believed to be the first, following hundreds of attacks across Northern Ireland.

Incidents of vandalism on dual language signs have been in focus as local administrations have moved to more inclusive policies.

While a PSNI spokesperson said they were unable to confirm if it was the first such arrest, it is the first announcement from police that an arrest had been made in direct connection to dual-language street sign damage.

Last month, it was announced that Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council was to review its policy before Christmas, while Belfast City Council adopted a new draft dual language policy to include Irish in its logos on vehicles, uniforms and signs.

Incidents of opposition have included a small protest against bilingual signs at Olympia Leisure Centre in the south of the city.

Criminal damage has also been noted on street signage, including an angle grinder being used on a bilingual sign in east Belfast.

The arrest of a 49-year-old man on Monday comes as part of an investigation into damage to signage in the Coagh area of Co Tyrone, which lies within the Mid Ulster council district.

The man has since been released pending a report to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS).

In October, the council heard that signs in the district alone had been the subject of 349 “reported incidents” of vandalism since 2017.

A senior council officer said that these incidents range from signs being cut out, destroyed by blow torches and pellet guns or being vandalised with marker.

SDLP MLA for the area, Patsy McGlone, said that he welcomed the news of an arrest in connection with the latest attack.

“The repeated attacks on Irish language signage in this area are totally futile and nonsensical,” he said.

“The Irish language poses no threat to anyone and these signs are supported by the vast majority of people living in this area.

“We need to be able to show respect and tolerance for each other’s traditions and culture and I would urge those behind these attacks to stop, the signs will be replaced and all they are achieving is an additional financial burden for the local council.”

A spokesperson from An Dream Dearg said: “It was a criminal offence to erect a dual-language street sign here between 1949 and 1995. The indigenous language of Ireland was outlawed and banned in a systematic attempt to eradicate and erase the language, supported at the time by Brian Faulkner and the northern parliament.

“The days of Irish being illegal or removed from public spaces are long gone. Language equality means both Irish and English must occupy shared spaces and shared signage.

“This is a restorative indigenous language journey that seeks to return Irish to everyday public use. An Dream Dearg condemns any and all attempts to marginalise Irish and urges all local councils and public authorities to review their ‘English-only’ policies and to adopt a new and inclusive approach that ensures the very rich heritage of our language and our placenames are an equal part of all front facing branding and signage moving forward."