Derry Court: Man jailed for defacing murals in Fountain area of the city

The organisation behind the murals told police that the incident was being seen in the area as a hate crime

A man has been jailed at Derry Magistrate's Court today for defacing murals in the predominantly unionist Fountain area of the city.

Robert Norton (39) of no fixed abode admitted four offences of criminal damage to the murals on November 12 last.

A previous Court heard that police were called to the Fountain area to reports of paint damage to the murals.

The organisation behind the murals told police that the incident was being seen in the area as a hate crime.

Damage was put at around £1,200.

Norton did not appear due to a technical issue but District Judge Barney McElholm sentenced him to eight months in prison.