AN ARREST has been made following a spate Black Lives Matter graffiti incident across a small town in Co Westmeath.
At least three buildings in the small town of Mullingar were defaced with either the phrase “Black Lives Matter” or simply the name “George Floyd” over the past few weeks.
Several photos of the offending graffiti were posted on to social media, sparking debates on both Twitter and Facebook in the process.
While some in Ireland commended the graffiti and its messages as a show of support for the protest movement, others condemned it as criminal damage and wanton vandalism defacing places of business.
Now an unnamed man, said to be in his 30s, has been arrested in connected with the incidents.
He appeared in Mullingar District Court yesterday.
A garda spokesperson said: "Gardaí are investigating a number of acts of criminal damage that occurred in Mullingar in the early hours of yesterday morning, Wednesday 10th June.
"A male in his 30s has been arrested and charged in relation to these incidents and is due to appear before Mullingar District Court today, Thursday 11th June 2020."
The graffiti is the latest example of demonstrators across Ireland showing their support for and solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, which has been protesting across the US since the death of George Floyd in police custody last month.
Demonstrations have taken place across several cities in Ireland while the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has acknowledged the need for Ireland to address its own issues with racism.
