East Belfast memorial attack an ‘insult’ to murder victim’s 96-year-old wife, cllr says

The incident has been condemned by local politicial representatives

An attack on a memorial garden in East Belfast has been described as an “insult” to the 96-year-old wife of a murder victim.

The garden, which is close to a sectarian interface with the Short Strand on the Lower Newtownards Road, was built to commemorate Jimmy McCurrie and Bobby Neill, who were shot dead by republican snipers in June 1970.

The memorial, which has been previously attacked, most recently in 2024, had paint thrown over it in the latest incident at around 10.35pm on Wednesday, July 29. It is being treated as a hate crime by police.

DUP councillor Bradley Ferguson condemned the attack, adding: “The McCurrie family made me aware of the latest attack on the memorial, which is not just an insult to those commemorated on it, but particularly to the families, including Jimmy McCurrie’s wife who is now 96 years old and is having to deal with being retraumatised by yet another sectarian attack on this memorial.

“It is important there is leadership from across the community to condemn this attack. Also, anyone with information should contact the police to assist with identifying those responsible.

“Attacks on this memorial, and on the families who take comfort from it must stop.”

Titanic councillor Ruth Brooks added: “The community on the Newtownards Road continue to stand with the McCurrie and Neill family and this attack is felt by all those in the area.

“The paint will be removed and the damage restored, but it is the mindset of those who carried out this damage which is in most urgent need of change.”

PSNI Inspector Connolly said: “We received a report at around 10.35pm on Wednesday, 29th July that a memorial park in the Newtownards Road area had been paint-bombed.

“This is being treated as a hate crime and our enquiries are ongoing.

“We would appeal to anyone with information to contact police using our witness appeal form at https://reporting.psni.police.uk/appeals, quoting reference 2066 of 29/07/26, or call us on 101.”

Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or contact them online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/.

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