Anger at local councillors' election posters placed on bonfires

The election posters of two Limavady councillors have been placed on an Eleventh night bonfire in the town.

The posters belonging to Sinn Féin’s Rory Donaghy and his party colleague Brenda Chivers were placed on the bonfire at Anderson Park yesterday evening.

An election poster belonging to SDLP MLA Alex Attwood was also placed on the bonfire.

Hitting out, Councillor Rory Donaghy today branded the incident a ‘hate crime’.

"While I am very angered at this I certainly am not surprised that photos of myself and party colleagues have appeared on these 'expressions of culture'. This incident is nothing other than a hate crime against the catholic and nationalist community and I will be contacting the PSNI over the issue," he said.

"This is the latest in a series of provocative actions in the town which have ratcheted up tensions in the area. From the excessive flying of flags to loyalist bandsmen urinating on a parochial house in the town."

He added: "Political and community leaders in the unionist community now must take action to ensure this does not escalate to physical attacks on the Nationalist community in Limavady. Until now political unionism has only paid lip service with mealy mouthed condemnation which will never tackle the problem."