Monitoring Forum condemn Fountain ‘hate crime’ attack

On behalf of the Forum, Michael Doherty, director of the Peace and Reconciliation Group, said: “The FIMF wish to express their concern that attacks such as this are not being reported to the police as the Fountain community feels that nothing is being done to protect them. The Foyle Interface Monitoring group wish to state that anyone who attacks another community is guilty of a sectarian crime and if caught in the act are guilty of Hate Crime and should be dealt with accordingly through the courts. There has been a tremendous amount of Cross-Community work taking place in this city that does not get the recognition it deserves.”

DUP Councillor, David Ramsey, said he welcomed the statement from the FIMF group supporting the strong condemnation for the on-going attacks on the Fountain,

“The important thing here is the wide support for the people of the Fountain and the vast majority of the people wanting them to live in peace,” he said, continuing: “These sectarian hate crimes must not be tolerated and I am glad to see that this is most people’s attitudes. This reflects on the very good cross community work being carried out all over Londonderry and attacks on the Fountain only raise tensions and deflate those working hard in the front line for a better future for all.

SDLP Foyle MP Mark Durkan has condemned those responsible for attacking a house and mural in the Fountain area of Derry at the weekend.

Mr Durkan said: “I strongly condemn the malicious actions of those responsible for these attacks. They do absolutely nothing to further the vision of a shared future or contribute to the strengthening of relationships between our communities.”