Poppy wreaths, crosses and floral tributes in memory of those who died in the Narrow Water atrocity have been destroyed yet again.
The damaged wreaths, in memory of the 18 British soldiers who lost their lives when two roadside bombs planted by republican terrorists went off, have been replaced.
SDLP MLA Sinead Bradley said it was ‘another sickening attack on memorial wreaths.
“Those behind this thuggish attack lack real basic human decency. Their actions speak for nobody only themselves. It’s a twisted view of this world that cannot find room to allow people to remember their dead,” she said.
Ulster Unionist Councillor for Newry, David Taylor said it was ‘another disgusting attack on this memorial dedicated to the 18 soldiers murdered by the IRA at this location almost 40 years ago.’
“Enough is enough, these attacks must stop!” he added.
The PSNI is investigating the incident.
The memorial has been repeatedly attacked in recent years. A Craigavon lorry driver who admitted destroying the memorial in October last year was handed a six month prison sentence in February.
Police meanwhile are appealing for witnesses.
Superintendent Jane Humphries said: “We received a report at 1:35pm yesterday (Sunday 2 June) that wreaths and crosses had been damaged. It is believed this occurred sometime between 4pm on Saturday 1 June and 12.30pm on Sunday, 2 June.
“Our enquiries into this incident, which is being treated as a hate crime, are continuing and we would urge anyone who witnessed what happened, or who knows anything about this to get in touch with police. We would also ask anyone who may have captured dashcam or helmet cam footage on the Warrenpoint dual carriageway to call police on 101, quoting reference number CCS 1099 of 02/06/18,” she added.
Alternatively, information can also be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 which is 100% anonymous and gives people the power to speak up and stop crime.
It is with a heavy heart that we have to inform you all once again that poppy wreaths, crosses and floral tributes have…
Posted by Memorial to the Narrow Water Massacre on Sunday, 2 June 2019
Another sickening attack on memorial wreaths #NarrowWater Warrenpoint. Those behind this thuggish attack lack real basic human decency. Their actions speak for nobody only themselves. It’s a twisted view of this world that cannot find room to allow people to remember their dead. https://t.co/LeyQDmL7iK
— Sinéad Bradley MLA (@SineadBradleySD) June 2, 2019
Utterly shocked, saddened and appalled to learn this morning that the poppy crosses, poppy wreaths and floral tributes at Narrow Water have once again destroyed.
Within an hour of hearing the news, the area was tidied and wreaths replaced.
We WILL Remember Them ? pic.twitter.com/M9ZMODGEuN
— Richard Mckee (@mckee1690) June 2, 2019