Slieveboy Road bilingual signage removed again

A SINN Féin councillor has called on Unionist representatives to publicly call for the return of bilingual signage which has been removed from a local road.

Sperrin councillor, Fergal Leonard, was speaking out after the recently erected dual language signage was removed from the Slieveboy Road (Bóthar an tSleibhe Bhuí), at the junction of Longland Road between Claudy and Donemana, at the weekend.

This follows previous incidents of damage and theft of bilingual signage at this location with the sign only reinstated by Derry City and Strabane District Council (DCSDC) last week.

“The theft of the signage was reported to me on Saturday afternoon by several nearby residents and members of the public expressing their disgust on social media," the local councillor said.

“It is a sad state of affairs when someone is so intolerant and insecure that they have to attack a road sign because it contains the Irish language.

"I have reported this matter to both the PSNI and DCSDC for investigation.

"This is criminal damage and a hate crime and needs to be treated as such."

Councillor Leonard added: "I would call upon Unionist politicians to condemn these actions and ask them to make a public call for the sign to be returned.

"All I and the people in this area ask is for the sign left to be left alone and for mutual respect to be shown to each other.

"Bilingual signs are a powerful means of giving expression to the rich historical, linguistic and cultural heritage and topography of an area in an inclusive way.

“Language threatens no one but enriches us all."