Member's statement: Dual Language Signage: Vandalism

Member's statement by Mr Colm Gildernew on 4 November 2024.

MLA

Mr Colm Gildernew

Party at the time

Sinn Féin

Date

4 November 2024

Type

Member's statement

Business

Members' Statements

Heading

Dual Language Signage: Vandalism

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4625120

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I would like to raise the ongoing campaign of vandalism on dual language signage in south Tyrone. That vandalism has taken place over a number of years across the area. Dual language signs have been attacked in Fivemiletown, Benburb, Eglish, Caledon, the Brantry, Castlecaulfield and Killeeshil. In recent weeks, there have been worrying developments. There have been repeated acts of vandalism on some of the signs, with signs being vandalised several times within several days. Worryingly, in recent days, we have also seen the inclusion on some of the signs of the letters "UVF". That is being seen as an attempt to intimidate and to hark back to the past. There are very clear criteria on the use of the signs, so they have buy-in from the community. It is fair to say that the Irish language is a threat to absolutely no one. In fact, even the English names that we have are fundamentally based on the Irish language. Indeed, Mr Speaker, I recall the event that you ran for Seachtain na Gaeilge in the Senate Chamber on the Irish origin of place names. We are seeing a litany of intolerance, vandalism and intimidation with the treatment of the signs, and I appeal to those who have been engaged in that behaviour to stop it. I ask other political parties across the area to make similar appeals so that we can see an end to something that is born of intolerance and narrow-mindedness and needs to stop. Sin é.

250 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

Second assessment

Jev’s answers did not settle this record, so a second model, claude-opus-5-5, read the same text (without the MLA’s name or party) and gave its reasons on 21 October 2026. How the second assessment works

Verdict

Not flagged

Public interest or divisiveness

Mainly advances the public interest

Against the published rubric

The statement condemns a run of attacks on dual language signs across named villages, including the addition of "UVF" lettering that is "being seen as an attempt to intimidate". The rubric treats seeking action against intimidation and paramilitary displays as a genuine concern rather than a symbolic grievance. The criticism is aimed at "those who have been engaged in that behaviour", not at a whole community. Defending the Irish language as "a threat to absolutely no one" counters hostility rather than adopting identity framing.

Public interest or divisiveness

The main function is to oppose vandalism and intimidation and to build a shared response, asking "other political parties across the area to make similar appeals". It notes that the signs follow agreed criteria with community buy-in, which ties the point to process rather than to communal point-scoring. Phrases such as "intolerance and narrow-mindedness" are directed at the conduct, not at any tradition, so the statement mainly serves the public interest.

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 11:27 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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