The Five Demands

Union flag stolen from Belfast memorial to men killed by IRA (Belfast Telegraph Digital)

A union flag has been stolen from an east Belfast memorial garden in honour of two men killed by the IRA.

Jimmy McCurrie and Bobby Neill were murdered on June 27/28, 1970, by IRA snipers in the grounds of St Matthew’s Church on the Newtownards Road.

The memorial has consistently come under attack in recent years.

East Belfast Ulster Unionist Councillor Sonia Copeland has condemned the persons responsible for the attack on the garden in the Lower Newtownards Road.

“It might be the dawning of a New Year, but it is sadly all too apparent that we as a society are still plagued by those whose only interest is in creating offence and seeking to provoke others,” Councillor Copeland said.

“This is a disgraceful incident, but sadly it is not the first time the memorial has been subjected to this type of provocative behaviour. The last thing we need is a heightening of tensions, and the people responsible knew exactly what they were doing.

“I urge anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area to please contact the police immediately, and not to fall into the trap that is so obviously being set.”