Jimmy Nesbitt threats: Police treating graffiti as 'hate crime'

Officers received a report of graffiti on a wall in the Bushmills Road area of Portrush yesterday (Wednesday).

Pictures of the painted threat, which reads ‘1x King, 1x Crown, No Pope in our town, James Nesbitt,’ have been widely-circulated on social media. The text is accompanied by cross hairs.A PSNI spokesperson said: “The graffiti is believed to have been written on the wall sometime between 5pm on Tuesday and 7.30pm on Wednesday evening and is being treated as a hate crime.“Enquiries are ongoing and officers would ask anyone with any information to contact them in Coleraine on the non emergency 101, quoting incident reference number 1677 19/10/22. You can also submit a report online using the non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ or you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/.

"You can also submit a report online using the non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ or you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/”

The threats to the Northern Irish actor, who spoke at an Ireland’s Future event in Dublin earlier this month, have been condemned by political representatives from across the spectrum.

Commenting on social media, Former Democratic Unionist Party Leader and First Minister, Dame Arlene Foster said: “Freedom of speech means the right to give your opinion no matter what others might think. I totally condemn this attack on James Nesbitt even though I fundamentally disagree with him. People need to learn to disagree without resorting to threats.”

East Londonderry DUP MP Gregory Campbell said Nesbitt should be free to express his views.

He said: “Jimmy Nesbitt is a local lad who has invested in his own community. Those painting threatening graffiti such as this should stop. Their actions are wrong and to be condemned.

“I fundamentally disagree with Mr Nesbitt’s position on Northern Ireland’s future but he has every right to express his political views in whatever forum he wishes. He should be able to do so free from fear.

“That is a democracy and it’s why I have opposed Sinn Fein all my life as they believed you could justify violence at the same time as doing politics.

“We must be consistent in always opposing violence as well as any threat of violence and attempted intimidation.”

Branding the scrawled message “sinister”, East Londonderry Social Democratic and Labour Party MLA Cara Hunter, said: “I am absolutely sickened at the disgraceful graffiti that has appeared in Portrush targeting James Nesbitt following his appearance at an Ireland’s Future event in Dublin this month. Whoever carried out this act does not have the support of people in Portrush, who are rightly proud that Mr Nesbitt calls this area home and are grateful for all the work he has done in promoting it over the years.

“This attempt to shut down conversation around our constitutional future is a sinister development and I am glad to see it has been condemned by those right across the political spectrum. Everyone is free to express their own opinion on the future of these islands, but they do not have the right to intimidate anyone else simply for engaging in the debate.

“If we are truly going to build a shared future then we need a wide range of voices contributing to make that possible. Nobody should feel they are unable to take part in that discussion because of incidents like this. I would encourage anyone with any information about what happened here to come forward to police and express my full solidarity with Mr Nesbitt following this incident.”

Portrush Ulster Unionist Party Alderman Norman Hillis explained: “I unreservedly condemn this graffiti targeting James Nesbitt as I condemn all threats or intimidation of any kind and from any source.

“Freedom of speech is a fundamental principle of democracy. That means that people are entitled to hold views and express their opinions, and crucially that means being exposed to opinions or ideas that you may not agree with.

“Furthermore, there is no excuse for vandalism of any kind. Whoever was responsible for this graffiti is serving no useful purpose. It should never have happened and there must be no repetition.”

Posting on Facebook, Causeway Alliance Party Councillor Chris McCaw said: “The people in our town condemn hateful behaviour like this. Hate-filled threats and destruction of property must be condemned by every right-thinking person.

"This is rightfully being investigated as a hate crime and I hope the PSNI catch the perpetrators.

"The people of Portrush do not support the people who have done this.”

East Londonderry Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald stated: “The appearance of threatening and sectarian graffiti directed at James Nesbitt in Portrush is disgusting.“These threats are an attack on the right to freedom of expression. They come only weeks after James Nesbitt addressed thousands of people in Dublin from right across the political spectrum to discuss the future of the island of Ireland.“This is clearly a sinister effort to silence debate and intimidate people from joining the discussion. There is no place in society for the threats and hatred directed at James Nesbitt.“Political leaders should stand shoulder to shoulder in opposition to these threats.

“Those responsible for this hate crime should be held to account. Anyone with information should bring it forward to the PSNI.”