Polish shop owner vows to stay in business

But the Polish national has removed a sign with the words 'Polish Shop' which were set upon a background made up of the red and white colours of the Polish Flag.

The shop owner was said to have been saddened by the attack at Castlecroft which is one of the main shopping districts in Ballymoney.

The words 'Polish Out' and a Nazi swaztika were daubed on the 'Polish Shop' sign and another swastika and 'C18' were daubed on a shutter over night on Thursday/Friday last week.

C18 is believed to have been a reference to the neo-Nazi group Combat 18 which has been linked with racist attacks before. The name is understood to be based on Nazi leader Adolf Hitler's initials being the first and eighth letters of the alphabet.

Rafal Kowalski is the son-in-law of the shop owner, Mieczyslaw Knap.

Mr Kowalski told the Times on Friday: "The shop has only been open five or six weeks and nothing like this has happened. We are sad this has happened.

"My father-in-law opened the shop as there was a gap in the market but he will keep the business going although he will take the sign down as the local people know what he sells anyhow. He has both local and Polish customers and the businesses nearby have been in to say they are disappointed this has happened," he added.

The Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association (NIRTA) has condemned the attack on the Polish shop.

Glyn Roberts, NIIRTA Chief Executive, said: "This is a totally despicable racist attack on this shop which I know the whole community in Ballymoney will totally deplore"

He added: "Retailers that cater for our Eastern and Central European community in Northern Ireland are becoming an essential part of the retail mix and make an important contribution to our town centres and high streets. They offer something different to local consumers and are very welcome in Northern Ireland.

"I hope that this mindless attack will not put off more of these types of shops from opening up."

Mayor, Alderman Frank Campbell also expressed his saddness at the attack.

He said: " I am appalled and saddened by this attack in our community. Like so many other towns in Northern Ireland, Ballymoney is multi-cultural and we want everyone to feel welcome in our town.

"This attack in no way reflects the feeling of the majority of the town's residents towards those of different nationalities. The Council's Good Relations strategy involves working very closely with minority groups in the borough and therefore this attack is particularly saddening coming so soon after the plane crash which tragically claimed the lives of 96 people including the Polish President and his wife."

North Antrim Westminster election Alliance candidate Jayne Dunlop condemned the racist graffiti.

She said: "This graffiti is totally despicable. What is going inside the heads of the people who carried out this act of hatred? The community in Ballymoney will be annoyed at the disgraceful mindset and actions of the perpetrators.

"My thoughts are with the shop's owners and their staff at this time of distress.

"This is a valued business which creates jobs and is putting money into our economy. No one should ever be treated like this.

"All our migrants are part of community and should be respected and made to feel welcome. Those who wrote this graffiti need to be caught and anyone who can help police with their investigation should contact them immediately."

North Antrim DUP MLA Mervyn Storey also condemned the attack.

He said: "This attack is to be condemned in the strongest possible way. There can be excuse or justification for this blatantly racist attack

"It should be understood that those who carried it out do not speak, or represent the views of the majority of the people of Ballymoney.

"People in Ballymoney have been welcoming of those from a different background and Country. They have at no time tried to make them feel unwanted. Such attacks as this do nothing to promote the good community relations that we have in our town."

Police are appealing for witnesses after graffiti was daubed on the shop in the Castlecroft Centre in Ballymoney sometime between 9pm on Thursday April 22 and 8.30am the following day.

The PSNI said the incident is being treated as racially motivated and anyone who saw suspicious activity in the area is asked to contact police on 08456008000. Alternatively, information can be passed on anonymously through the 'Crimestoppers' charity on freephone 0800555111.