Border control posts on alert as sinister graffiti appears in Larne
Violence never acceptable, says TUV chief Allister as PSNI launches probe
POLICE are probing a threat made to people working at one of the new border control posts.
The investigation was launched after graffiti warning that “all border post staff are targets” appeared in Larne.
It prompted officials at the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) to alert the operators of the facilities in Larne, Belfast and Warrenpoint.
A leaked internal memo seen by this newspaper was sent out by the Brexit Operational Readiness Department.
It said: “To be aware, the below appeared overnight near Larne Port. There is nothing to suggest at this time that this is anything other than an isolated incident.
“However, this may understandably cause you/your teams concern, but be assured that Daera has engaged with the PSNI, who are dealing with the matter appropriately.
“Daera will continue to liaise with the PSNI to ensure that your health, safety and welfare, and that of our delivery partners, remains our utmost priority.
“I would be grateful if you could ask your relevant staff to report anything suspicious in the area of the port to either ourselves, PSNI or port security.”
Border control post facilities came into operation on January 1 because of Boris Johnson’s deal with the EU, which imposed a de facto Irish Sea border on movement of goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.
While the Northern Ireland protocol’s fundamental purpose is preventing a hardening of the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, it means there are customs checks at local ports.
TUV leader Jim Allister said: “No one, either through actual threats or headline-grabbing threats, should be resorting to matters pertaining to violence in respect of any issue.
“There is a place, indeed a necessary place, for political opposition to the partition of the UK, but that should be coming from particularly the political leadership of unionism.”
Alliance East Antrim MLA Stewart Dickson added: “While there is no excuse for this, sadly some will attempt to justify it by linking it with Brexit.
“The reality is, it is just thugs again attempting to assert their dominance in the area.”
DUP MP for East Antrim Sammy Wilson said: “There is a political battle to be fought here. I don’t think anything will be achieved by writing messages on the walls. It has not been the approach which unionists have.”
A source said there were fears that the border control post in Warrenpoint could be targeted by dissident republicans.
“Where it’s located is at the Narrow Water Castle, and anyone who knows the history about Narrow Water will know about the bomb that went off there (in
1979, killing 18 soldiers), so there is a credible threat as nobody wants to see a border infrastructure of any shape or description in this area, and similarly I don’t think the loyalists want to see border inspection in Larne,” the source added.
A Daera spokesperson said the department was “aware of this incident” and was liaising with the PSNI.
The police said: “Police are aware of a graffiti incident in the vicinity of Larne Harbour on January 21. This matter is currently under investigation.”