“To be targeted in this manner is disappointing.”
Sectarian graffiti was daubed on the gates of a Co Antrim GAA club overnight in an incident being treated as a hate crime by police.
The graffiti appeared at Rasharkin GAA in the early hours of Sunday morning, June 7, and read ‘GSTK’, which is believed to mean ‘God save the King.’ Another piece of writing reads ‘REM1690’, an apparent reference to the Battle of the Boyne.
Posting a statement on social media, Rasharkin GAA expressed its disappointment at the incident. A spokesperson for the club said: “St Mary’s Rasharkin GAC is aware of graffiti sprayed onto the club gates overnight.
“To be targeted in this manner is disappointing. Sectarian graffiti is wrong in any setting and should be condemned. Our club is proud to provide an inclusive environment for people of all backgrounds to enjoy Gaelic Games in the village.
“It is particularly disappointing that this incident comes during a weekend where hundreds of our young people have been busy enjoying our games.”
Local Sinn Féin councillor, Leanne Peacock, said the incident was carried out by “faceless thugs,” describing the incident as a “digusting sectarian attack.”
Police confirmed they are treating the incident as a sectarian hate crime. A PSNI spokesperson said: “We are treating this as a hate crime and enquiries are ongoing.
“We are appealing to anyone who was in the area at the time and has any information, including CCTV or other footage that could assist with the investigation, to contact police on the 101 number, quoting reference 613 07/06/2026.”
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