19/8/10

Catch the racist graffiti vandals
Galway Advertiser, August 19, 2010.

Cllrs Keane and McNelis at one of the graffiti sites.

By Martina Nee

Knocknacarra residents and a number of city councillors are up in arms over a recent spate of graffiti at a laneway which has been described as “shocking in the extreme” because of its highly insulting and racist commentary.

The graffiti at Millar’s Lane has been widely condemned by concerned residents in the surrounding housing estates as well as councillors Peter Keane and Niall McNeilis.

The two councillors have united to condemn the graffiti and are calling on members of the community to be vigilant and to come forward with relevant information so that the vandals responsible can be caught.

Cllrs Keane and McNeilis both visited the Millar’s Lane area recently to see for themselves the graffiti and the devastating impact it is having in the area.

Commenting on the visit Cllr Keane said, “This sort of wanton vandalism has no place in civil society and I am urging any member of the public with knowledge of the perpetrators of these acts to come forward in confidence to the gardai so that this behaviour can be stamped out once and for all”.

Cllr McNeilis further commented, “The graffiti in itself is bad enough, and while we in Galway city are doing all within our power of procurement to prevent it, some of the racist commentary is shocking in the extreme. We must first ensure that the removal of the graffiti takes place immediately and secondly do all we can to catch whoever is involved in this. The slogans painted are racist, backward in thinking, and will never represent the greater majority of the people of Galway city”.

Both councillors, who have canvassed a number of housing estates near to Millar’s Lane, say that the “residents’ disgust at what is happening is palpable”. The councillors intend to have the matter put firmly on the agenda and are encouraging members of the community to be even more vigilant so that the culprits can be brought to justice.