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Council 'wholly condemns' more antisemitic graffiti in Co Meath

Louth graffiti - pic - Laura Hogan - RTE
Meath County Council said the graffiti at Bigstown has been reported to gardaí

Another incident of antisemitic graffiti being daubed on a road has been reported in Co Meath.

Meath County Council has said the graffiti at Bigstown has been reported to gardaí. Work to remove it will be carried out as soon as possible.

It follows several similar incidents along the Louth/Meath border over some years, the most recent of which occurred over Christmas.

In a statement, the local authority said it is "aware of and wholly condemns a recent incident where antisemitic graffiti was applied to the L5600 in the Bigstown area of County Meath".

"This matter has been reported to An Garda Síochána and our operation crews are at the location and will remove the graffiti as soon as is feasibly possible."

Meath County Council said one of its "core values" is "creating an inclusive environment where diversity is respected and equality is upheld for all our citizens and for any person visiting our country".

Local councillor Paddy Meade who has been highlighting this activity said the latest graffiti was painted on the roads at Bigstown in Co Meath and Shanliss in Co Louth overnight.

The graffiti includes the word "Jew", the Star of David symbol and the word "rats".

Cllr Meade said this was the eleventh such incident in recent years. He said a number of residents who live in the area and who are very upset about it brought it to his attention.

He said the graffiti has been painted on the road about 200m from a school.

In another incident last December, graffiti was painted on the R165 and L1260 near Ardee.

At the time, gardaí said they were investigating the incident as a hate crime and confirmed they had received a report of criminal damage to the road surface at Shanliss, near Ardee, in Co Louth.