Antrim: Racist graffiti investigated at five sites

The graffiti followed several reports of racist and sectarian attacks in Antrim over recent weeks.

At the end of last month, a bungalow specially designed for nine-year-old disabled boy was one of two new-build properties that were damaged in Antrim.

Jessy suffers from spina bifida and has a range of other complex medical needs which require him to use a wheelchair.

Police said four people, dressed in dark clothing, threw objects at the house in the Reford Grove development in the early hours of Sunday, 30 June.

They are treated that incident as a sectarian-motivated hate crime.

Then last week, an African family told BBC News NI they were leaving the home they had lived in for almost two years because of increasing racist intimidation.

The family said the intimidation intensified after anti-immigrant posters were erected in the Ballycraigy area at the end of May.

Two weeks later, 6 June, a large black X was spray-painted on their living room window.

On 26 June, a printed poster was taped to the window which read: “It is not racist to look after your own.” A Northern Ireland flag was printed below the message.

On 2 July, the windows of a car belonging to the couple were smashed.

The family has now moved out and said they will not be returning to the area.

Seven other families said they had also left their homes because of racist intimidation.

Their names were withheld to protect their identities.