United Irishmen monument vandalised
by Dan O'Neill
Loyalists are believed to have been behind an attack on a monument
erected in West Belfast to commemorate a local family prominent in
the 1798 United Irishmen Rebellion.
The stone memorial to the Teeling family which stands on the
Stewartstown Road between Twinbrook and Poleglass was attacked with
hammers and paint in the early hours of Friday morning February 26
and is the third such attack in a fortnight.
The monument , which was unveiled by Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams
during the West Belfast Festival last year, was erected at the same
time as a similar monument to IRA Volunteers from the area, including
hunger striker Bobby Sands. ``The idea was to link 200 years of
republicanism in the area'', said local Sinn Fein councillor Paul
Butler.
These attacks are a major setback for The Teeling Group which raised
the money to fund the monument. Efforts now to erect a decorative
wall surrounding the memorial will have to be suspended as the
limited funds of the group will now be channelled into repairing the
damage to the monument.
The Teeling Group appealed for help in repairing the damage, ``we
urgently require a stone mason to carry out this specialised work
needed. As a voluntary group we are also in need of funds to complete
our project. Any donations will be gratefully received,'' he said.
The Teeling Group can be contacted on the following numbers: Daytime
phone - 300411 or evening - 209282.
Donations can be sent to, The Teeling Memorial Fund, First Trust Bank
Andersonstown Road, Account No. 02494059.
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