Omagh meeting organised following racist graffiti incidents

AN Omagh-based support group for refugees and newcomers is to host a meeting in response to a rise in racist graffiti and online hate speech across the district.

ERANO, which operates out of Community House in Omagh, provides support to people seeking to build new lives in the Fermanagh and Omagh area.

The organisation has voiced concern about recent spikes in racially motivated incidents and is calling on local leaders to take action.

The meeting, scheduled for May 15, will bring together representatives from the PSNI, local political figures, and community leaders to discuss the growing number of hate crimes and anti-immigration messages seen in the area in recent months.

“There has been an increase in hate crimes across the district,” said an ERANO spokesperson. “We’re also seeing a rise in worrying social media posts, which show just how much misinformation and ignorance still exists around different cultures.”

ERANO stressed that Fermanagh and Omagh has long been seen as a welcoming place for refugees, but warned of growing tensions.

“We don’t want to see our district divided along racial lines. These crimes are being carried out without consideration for the damage they cause. The community needs to come together and take a stand against hate.”

The move comes after two separate incidents of anti-immigrant graffiti were reported in Omagh last week. Police confirmed they received a report of graffiti under the Kevlin Road bridge around 1.55pm on Sunday, April 20, and said they are also investigating similar graffiti at Cookstown Road. Both are being treated as racially motivated hate crimes.

These follow previous incidents in March when messages such as ‘Irish Only’ and other slogans accusing Sinn Féin of betrayal – signed ‘RAA’ – were daubed on walls across the town.

Omagh town councillor Barry McElduff welcomed the initiative and said he will be attending the roundtable discussion.

“There is simply no place in our society for racism or intimidation,” he said.