Bilingual road sign damaged

Bilingual road sign damaged

26 August 2020

REPUBLICAN and unionist politicians have criticised the of a dual language road sign in the Aughlisnafin area outside Castlewellan, just hours after it was erected.

Sinn Fein’s Roísín Howell said those responsible for removing, destroying or vandalising dual language signs should be reported to the police, while Ulster Unionist Alan Lewis suggested money invested in such signs was “wasted” and would be better diverted to an Irish language bursary scheme.

Condemning the deliberate damage to a bilingual road sign at the Wateresk Road junction, Cllr Howell said that number of signs across the district have been vandalised on numerous occasions, including in the Slieve Croob DEA.

She continued: “It is clear that the newly erected sign at the Wateresk Road was deliberately targeted hours after Newry, Mourne and Down Council erected it.

There is no excuse for this type of vandalism and it cannot be tolerated.

“Local people campaigned hard to get this sign erected and have expressed their understandable annoyance at this wanton destruction.”

Cllr Howell said that a number of Irish speaking families live along the Wateresk Road and that consultations took place with all residents, with the erection of the sign receiving widespread support.

“Those responsible for removing, destroying or vandalising bilingual signs are involved in criminal damage and should be reported to the PSNI,” she declared.

“Unfortunately, the vandalism of this sign and other similar signs in the area is indicative of the attitude of some in society who show a complete disregard and lack of respect for the Irish identity.”

Cllr Lewis described online comments in relation to bilingual signs as “very telling” and said references to “our sign” and “our road” highlights what he described as the “fundamental problem with bilingual signage.”

Cllr Lewis argued that the signs “mark out territory, divide communities and cause tension” and revealed that before signs were erected, he informed the local authority that there would be issues, expressing particular concern about how the survey of residents to test support for dual language signs is run.

He declared: “To impose bilingual signage on communities with 50 percent plus one approval is fundamentally flawed. The system isn’t working, it needs revisited.

“I have long argued that money wasted on Irish road signs should be diverted to the Irish language bursary scheme so people who truly wish to learn the language can do so.”

Cllr Lewis suggested that an alternative use for the money would be for the local authority to set up a cultural awareness programme for children.

He added: “Dual language signs are ridiculous and, in my opinion, are a Republican power trip and a party political bandwagon for aggravators and agitators.

“It is disappointing that council property has been damaged at the Wateresk Road and there is no excuse for vandalism.

I would ask people to allow me to deal with this issue through council mechanisms.”