Smashed windows at Derry Cultúrlann not treated as sectarian hate crime

Niall Deeney

25 June 2024 at 11:33 am·2-min read

The smashing of windows at a centre for the Irish language in Derry is not being treated as a sectarian hate crime.

The PSNI has described the breaking of windows at Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin on Great James Street in Derry city centre as a burglary. Sinn Fein MLA Padraig Delargy, meanwhile, hit out at the "reckless destruction" at the cultural centre.

A teenager has been arrested in connection with the incident, a spokesperson for the PSNI has said.

In a statement, a PSNI spokesperson said: "Police investigating a burglary in the Great James Street area of Derry / Londonderry in the early hours of Tuesday, 25th June have made an arrest.

"Just after 2.20am, it was reported that a man had smashed the window of business premises in the area before entering and making off with a number of items. An 18-year-old man was later arrested in the Strand Road area of the city and remains in police custody at this time."

The police statement added: "Enquiries are continuing and police would appeal to anyone with any information, to contact them on 101 quoting reference number 160 of 25/06/24. Alternatively, you can submit a report online using the non-emergency reporting form via www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/."

Foyle MLA Padraig Delargy said: "The community is shocked and appalled to learn that Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin on Great James Street has been damaged by vandals overnight. Staff turned up for work this morning to find that windows on the building had been smashed."

He continued: “This centre is a pillar of our city that is used by everyone, it is a hotbed of local music, talent and culture and a school where children and adults of all ages go to learn Irish."

Mr Delargy added: “There is no place for this reckless destruction. I will be in touch with the PSNI this morning and I would urge anyone with information to bring it forward immediately.”

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here

The Bolton News
What happened to Maxine Carr? The ex-girlfriend of Soham murderer Ian Huntley
Maxine Carr is the former girlfriend of Soham murderer Ian Huntley and was convicted in 2003.
The Independent
Boy, 14, was held down and hacked to death at Wyoming mall while he tried to protect his girlfriend
Dominique Antonio Richard Harris and Jarreth Plunkett, both 15, are accused of murdering 14-year-old Bobby Maher during fatal attack
The Telegraph
German woman given harsher sentence than rapist for calling him ‘pig’
A woman in Germany has been given a harsher sentence than a convicted rapist after she was found guilty of defaming him.
News Shopper
Busy London station CLOSED with major police presence and cordons in place
A busy central London train station has been closed, with a major police presence at the scene.
News Shopper
‘Hero’ London firefighter raped and abused his own kids in ‘house of horrors’
A brother and sister who helped jail their dad Brian Doye decades after he raped and sexually abused them have spoken out.
OK! Magazine
TV star detective's grim 6-word view on Jay Slater case as 'armchair sleuths complicate hunt' for missing teen
Former Met detective and Hunted star Peter Bleksley delivered his verdict on the case - and criticised people with 'zero experience' weighing in on the case...
Evening Standard
Woman attacked by stranger who dragged her into garden in north London ambush
A manhunt has been launched after police found the partially clothed woman
Sky News
Jay Slater's mother gives update and says family want to withdraw money from GoFundMe
Jay Slater's mother has said the family are working with GoFundMe to withdraw some of the £36,000 that has been raised since the teenager disappeared. Ms Duncan, who is on the Spanish island with Mr Slater's father and brother, added that "part of these funds" will also be used to fly out the "loved ones" of the "wonderful people who are by my side" so that "we can support each other during these dark times".
Sky News
Police not looking for anyone else after murder investigation into deaths of paramedic and woman
Police say they are not looking for anyone else after a paramedic was found dead along with a woman at a house in Staffordshire. Detectives had opened a murder investigation after the bodies of Daniel Duffield, 24, from Cannock, and Lauren Evans, 22, from Bridgend in South Wales, were discovered in a property in Hednesford, Cannock, at around 12.30pm on Tuesday afternoon. A file is now being prepared for coroners and the families of the two victims are being supported by specialist officers.
The Telegraph
Driver chains £100,000 Land Rover to tree in bid to stop thieves
A Land Rover owner has chained their car to a tree in London to prevent it being stolen.
The Independent
A glimmer of hope for Jay Slater’s family - an Irish tourist who was found after vanishing in Tenerife
Ryan Cooney’s story offers hope to Jay Slater’s family that he could be found alive on the island
The Independent
Jay Slater machete gang attack victim hits out at internet trolls and urges them to help find teenager
The alleged victim told TikTok trolls ‘Have some respect and help find this boy and get him back to his family’
Yahoo News UK
Former British detective investigating missing Jay Slater ‘wants to speak to two key people’
TV investigator Mark Williams-Thomas, best known for working on Madeleine McCann’s disappearance, has flown to Tenerife to help find Jay Slater.
Daily Echo
Staff threatened after challenging shoplifter at Co-Op store
CCTV has been released after shop staff were threatened during an alleged shoplifting incident at the Welcome Co-Op store in Fair Oak Road.
The Independent
The vanished of Tenerife: Other people who disappeared on the island where Jay Slater went missing
Several people still remain missing on the island of Tenerife after vanishing decades ago
Evening Standard
Just Stop Oil: Six people arrested at east London soup night ahead of 'summer flight disruption'
Six people suspected of being Just Stop Oil organisers have been arrested at a soup night in east London. The arrests were made after reports that the group planned to disrupt airports and “thousands of holidaymakers this summer”, the force said. Some of those in custody are believed to be “key organisers” for Just Stop Oil, police said.The climate activists last week breached security at Stansted Airport to spray orange paint on private jets.Singer Taylor Swift’s private jet had been there hours before the incident but was not affected.A source told The Times that the airport attack was only a “prelude” to action coming before autumn, adding: “This is just another way of us taking action in the theatres of life we exist in because we’re not politicians.”JSO denied individual holidaymakers were being targeted, but failed to rule out action at airports this summer.
The Argus
Repeat sex offender met up with teenage girl he was banned from seeing
A repeat sex-offender has been jailed for 12 months after seeing a teenage girl despite an order against him.
Manchester Evening News
British man rescued by police in Jay Slater search says he 'didn't need saving'
Former housing project director and experienced hiker David Larkin said he didn't "want to appear ungrateful" and "thanked them for their concern but I was fine"
Manchester Evening News
Daniel Gee had no idea when he walked into shop for a butty that police were coming
The former Everton gangster has been on the run since late May after escaping from an open prison
The Telegraph
A murder suspect claims she was framed by her dead boyfriend’s police colleagues. Her adoring fans agree
At around 6am on Jan 29 2022, the lifeless body of John O’Keefe, a police officer, lay blanketed in snow outside a detached house in a small suburban town 15 miles south-west of Boston.

Latest stories