Banner Removed and Replaced in Moygashel Play Park
A controversial banner that was removed by police from a play park in County Tyrone on Friday has been replaced at the same location. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) initially treated the display as a hate incident and subsequently launched a criminal investigation into the matter.
By Saturday morning, an identical banner had been affixed to a fence in the same Moygashel play park.
Community Leaders Respond to the Banner
Councillor Malachy Quinn described the banner’s imagery as showing "a typical play park picture" on one side and on the other side "a visual of bearded men that were obviously meant to be Muslims, behind a barrier."
Sinn Féin assembly member Colm Gildernew emphasized the responsibility of political representatives and community leaders to denounce the banner.
"This banner has been re-erected solely to sow division in the community,"
He also raised concerns regarding photographs circulated online that depict men wearing face coverings standing beside the banner.
"The reported presence of masked men at a children's park is a sinister development which must also be called out and fully investigated,"
"There is no place in our society for racism, it is time to take a stand against division, and to stand up for inclusion and respect."
