Hate crime investigation after vandalism to McGurk's Bar bombing memorial

THE PSNI say they have launched a hate crime investigation in Belfast after a memorial to the 15 people killed in a 1971 UVF bomb attack on McGurk's Bar was vandalised in a paint-bomb attack.

Local Sinn Féin Councillor J. J. Magee described the attack on the memorial plaque on North Queen Street as "a disgusting act" which must be condemned.

"This is an insult to all those who were killed and injured in the in McGurk's Bar bombing," he said.

"All memorials should be treated with dignity and respect and should not be targeted in this way. I would appeal to anyone with information on this attack to bring it forward to the PSNI."

Fifteen men, women and children were killed and 17 injured when a UVF bomb ripped through the Tramore Bar, owned by Patrick McGurk, at 8:45pm on 4 December 1971. The bar was located near the nationalist New Lodge Road in north Belfast. 

From the outset, the British and RUC were aware that a unionist death squad was behind the attack but tried to pin the blame for the bombing on the IRA. The aim of this 'black propaganda' was to turn the nationalist community against the IRA and justify the introduction of internment without trial.