Police appealed for calm today at a sectarian flashpoint area of east Belfast after a gang of youths defaced a memorial to two murdered men.
Vandals threw white paint over the granite stone and garden on the Lower Newtownards Road and daubed offensive slogans across the plaque erected in memory of two Protestant men shot dead by the IRA in 1970.
Police said a gang of youths were seen in the area at about 3am and an officer chased them down Bryson Street towards the nationalist Short Strand.
A number of items linked to the vandalism were recovered.
Sinn Féin’s east Belfast representative Niall O Donnghaile said: “Last night’s attack on the monument on the Newtownards Road was completely reprehensible.
“It is essential that the work which is ongoing to try and resolve the interface issues in this area continues and that we all work to try and ensure that such attacks are not repeated.”
Mr O Donnghaile visited the site with party colleagues and spoke to relatives of those remembered in the garden.
“People were quite emotional because of the fact that the memorial was targeted,” he said.
“The atmosphere was heated. There were people there, families of those people who were killed so understandably it was emotional.”
It is believed the memorial, dedicated to local men James McCurrie and Robert Neill, has been targeted in the past.
The two Protestants were killed in June 1970 by IRA snipers based in St Matthew’s Chapel at the edge of the in Short Strand.
Acting Inspector Robert Ellison appealed for local leaders to help maintain calm in the area.
“We do our utmost to work with the local community to tackle this type of crime and help provide local initiated solutions,” Mr Ellison said.
“The vast majority of people do not want this type of activity in their own community, it is only a small minority who are intent on causing trouble.
“I would ask all residents in the Lower Newtownards Road and Short Strand areas to assist us in apprehending those responsible.”
PA