A memorial to five people gunned down in a south Belfast bookmakers shop 11 years ago was vandalised today as the city prepared for another tense 12th of July.
Police were investigating the desecration of the Hatfield Street memorial to the victims of the Sean Graham betting shop massacre in the lower Ormeau.
Paint was splattered over the memorial in the sectarian flashpoint area at around 7 a.m. A man was seen driving away from the scene.
Five people, ranging in age from 15 to 66, were gunned down in the bookmakers in February 1992 by the Ulster Freedom Fighters.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland has urged anyone who witnessed today's vandalism of the memorial or had information to help detectives in Musgrave Street with their investigation. Today's incident was condemned by Sinn Fein's Alex Maskey.
"The desecration of any memorial is despicable," the south Belfast councillor said.
"It only adds to the grief of the families of the people in whose memory these are erected.
"My sympathy goes to the families of those killed in the Sean Graham bookies massacre over this latest incident."
SDLP councillor Dr Alasdair McDonnell said those behind the attack on the memorial were intent on stirring up tensions in the lower Ormeau area.
"This was a mischievous attack on the community in the lower Ormeau Road and the relatives of those remembered in the memorial," the local GP said.
"It is my view that it was intended to stir up as much annoyance as possible.
"Those who did this were intent on causing difficulties."
PA