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Contractors turn down work to remove hospital graffiti

BBC A wall at the royal victoria hospial in belfast which has been daubed with the phrase “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”. a Palestinian flag has also been painted on the wallBBC
A number of contractors had turned down the removal work, the head of the Belfast Health Trust says

Pro-Palestinian graffiti has remained on a wall at the Royal Victoria Hospital (RVH) because several contractors have turned down the work, the head of the Belfast Health Trust has said.

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has raised the issue of the slogans on the Falls Road side of the RVH with the NI Public Services Ombudsman.

Work to remove the graffiti is to start, however the trust said it had been a struggle to find someone to do it.

The DUP said questions were needed over why contractors were “fearful” about taking on the work.

The DUP's Diane Dodds questioned Belfast Trust chief executive Maureen Edwards about the graffiti during a Stormont committee on Thursday.

She said she understood the graffiti had been there for six months.

"In the interests of a health service that's available and open and everyone is welcome to that health service, it is a bit appalling that we have waited six months to get rid of antisemitic graffiti."

She added: “There is an obvious question about why contractors would be so fearful about the removal of this graffiti which is on a main thoroughfare in the city.

"I would hope that local representatives there would make clear that they would welcome the removal of this slogan and play a part in reducing any concerns that contractors might have.”

'Extreme difficulty'

A wall at the royal hospital in belfast, which has been daubed with the phrase “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”
Diane Dodds described the graffiti as 'antisemitic'

The Belfast Trust chief executive said she completely agreed.

"As one of the first trusts of sanctuary, we take it very seriously," Ms Edwards said.

"We had extreme difficulty getting anyone to take the graffiti down."

The trust of sanctuary award, won by the Belfast Trust in September this year, recognises its "commitment to providing a safe, welcoming environment for everyone, regardless of background, ethnicity, or origin".

She added: "We had gone out to lots of contractors who would not do it. It is being dealt with now.

"We had gone to local community groups, who supported us... but we had really difficulty in getting anyone to do it."

DUP DUP leader Gavin Robinson stands to the left of a wall, which has been daubed with the phrase “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”DUP
Gavin Robinson said the graffiti is 'clearly upsetting' for members of the Jewish community

In a statement, DUP leader Gavin Robinson said the graffiti is "clearly upsetting" to members of the local Jewish community.

"No one should feel fear or intimidation when accessing health care. No Health Trust should allow such messaging on their wall."

Mr Robinson said an official complaint had been made to the trust five months ago.

He added: "Everyone deserves an explanation as to why it remains, but most particularly those from our Jewish community who see as directly pointing to them."