A Sinn Féin legislative staff member in Northern Ireland has resigned after admitting involvement in an incident in which a portrait of a former DUP mayor was removed from a wall at Belfast City Hall and vandalized.
The party, which has been rocked by recent disputes over Ireland's northern and southern borders, said police had been informed and staff suspended. They later reportedly resigned.
The DUP said the portrait was removed from the wall and the glass in its frame was broken during an event on Saturday night to celebrate the 20th anniversary of an Irish language group. Portrait of Wallace Brown painted by Jewish artist Israel Zohar.
In a social media post, DUP leader Gavin Robinson said: “We don't know whether the motivation was bigotry, anti-Semitism, wanton destruction or a heady combination of all three… but [it’s] It's a shame.”
The Police Service of Northern Ireland said it received a report of criminal damage to a piece of art at Belfast City Hall at around 4.50pm on Monday.
It mounts pressure on a stagnant party that has seen four major resignations in recent weeks.
In a statement issued on Monday evening, a Sinn Féin spokesperson said: “Today, 21 October, a Sinn Féin staff member working in the Assembly informed the party leader of his involvement in an incident involving a portrait in Belfast City Hall. It took place on Saturday, October 19.
“The employee has been suspended with immediate effect and we have informed the PSNI today. The employee has resigned from his job and his party membership.
The incident comes just days after former Belfast mayor Niall Ó Donnghaile revealed he left Sinn Féin last year after the party received complaints he had sent inappropriate text messages to a teenage party member.
Three weeks ago, two press officials resigned after informing another senior press official that he had pleaded guilty to child abuse.
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Brian Stanley, one of his most respected TDs in the Dáil last week, also resigned amid allegations of serious misconduct, saying he had been dealt with in an internal “kangaroo court”.
With a general election in the Republic scheduled for November or December, opposition parties are exploiting Sinn Féin's difficulties for maximum electoral gains.
A Sunday Times poll at the weekend showed support for the party had fallen to 16% from a high of 30% two years ago.
