Tricolour is painted on Ardglass church walls

Tricolour is painted on Ardglass church walls

17 April 2013

A SINN Fein politician has condemned those responsible for painting a tricolour on the walls of Ardglass Presbyterian Church graveyard.

Councillor Éamonn Mac Con Midhe was contacted by a number of people in the village concerned that the flag had been painted on church property and next door to a children’s playground.

The flag, which appeared several weeks ago, was painted over yesterday morning by Down Council officials.

Condemning those responsible for painting the flag, Councillor Mac Con Midhe said doing this or painting slogans of any kind is wrong and that such behaviour would be rejected by the vast majority of people.

Councillor Mac Con Midhe, who is a member of Down Council’s Good Relations Forum, said he has never painted slogans or flags on any walls and fails to see what such behaviour achieves.

“Painting a tricolour on the walls of church property will be offensive to many people and is not good for the flag and what it stands for,” he continued.

“Presbyterians did more for the Irish language, the Irish flag and Irish culture than anybody and it’s important we show them respect. I condemn what’s happened in Ardglass and hope this type of behaviour will not be repeated.”

Councillor Mac Con Midhe said he did not want people painting any kind of graffiti, including Republican slogans, as it only serves to destroy the property on which it’s painted.

The Downpatrick councillor said there was a need to respect the Irish flag and suggested if people want to put it up over Easter they should take it down immediately afterwards.