A Sinn Féin staff member in Northern Ireland has resigned after admitting to involvement in an incident where a portrait of a former Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) mayor was removed from the wall at Belfast City Hall and subsequently damaged.
The incident has intensified scrutiny on Sinn Féin, which has faced several controversies recently both in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The party confirmed that the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) had been notified, and the staff member was initially suspended before ultimately resigning.
According to the DUP, the portrait of Wallace Browne was taken down and the glass frame was shattered during a Saturday evening event celebrating the 20th anniversary of an Irish language group. The artwork was created by Jewish artist Israel Zohar.
DUP leader Gavin Robinson expressed his concerns on social media, stating, “We don’t know if the motivation was sectarian bigotry, antisemitism, wanton destruction, or a heady mix of the three… but [it’s] a disgrace.”
The PSNI reported receiving a complaint about criminal damage to an artwork in Belfast City Hall at 4:50 PM on Monday.
This incident adds to the mounting pressure on Sinn Féin, which has experienced four high-profile resignations in recent weeks. In a statement released Monday evening, a Sinn Féin spokesperson said, “On October 21, a Sinn Féin employee, who works in the assembly, informed the party chief whip of their involvement in the incident regarding the portrait in Belfast City Hall that occurred on October 19. The employee was immediately suspended, and we have notified the PSNI. The employee has since resigned from their position and party membership.”
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