TUV Court Councillor Ron McDowell said:
“No one should engage in acts of vandalism, including graffiti of this kind. Thankfully this was an unoccupied property and this does not seem to be an incident aimed at an individual”
“However, simple condemnation is not sufficient. We must address the deeper issues and genuine frustrations that have given rise to this message.
“It was only a matter of time before the sentiments of local residents found such expression as regrettable as that may be. As a local representative, I am assisting people in their 40s, with young children, who are still living with their parents because they cannot secure housing in the very area their families have called home for generations.
“Meanwhile, foreign nationals have been allocated homes in that same area.
“This is not a failure of the local community, which I am proud to represent. Nor is it the fault of local housing officers it is the result of a deeply flawed housing policy that fails to prioritise the needs of local people. Placing individuals into communities already under pressure — where residents feel overlooked and displaced — benefits no one.
“There is an urgent need for those in authority to revisit this issue. Policies must be rooted in fairness, reflect the realities on the ground, and respect the identity and needs of longstanding communities.”