PRESS RELEASE
The Independent Orange Order has condemned the criminal damage of the statue erected in honour of the late Queen Victoria positioned at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.
Imperial Grand Master of the Order Phil Moffatt commenting on the vandalism stated that the desecration of the statue was a poor reflection upon attempts made by Irish republicans to erase our British identity.
This statue was commissioned in 1899 and has graced the front entrance of the hospital for many years. Im sure that the money which it will now cost to clean this monument to its former state, would have been better used on those who need the services of the NHS.
This hospital provides an outstanding service for both sections of our community and such a provision which attends to wellbeing of the good people of Northern Ireland, is not the place to stage manage a republican campaign.
I call upon the First Minister Michelle O’Neil, ( who is incidentally is a Minister of the British Crown ) to condemn without hesitation those who carried out this appalling act of vandalism. I furthermore encourage her to call upon those within her community who have details regarding this outrageous behaviour to pass all relevant information onto the PSNI
No amount of paint will erase our culture and identity as subject of the crown
