The son of Samuel Gault, one of the victims of the Enniskillen bombing, has described ‘IRA’ graffiti near the site of the atrocity as a “despicable” act which has caused “re-traumatisation”.

There has been widespread condemnation of the graffiti which was sprayed on the wall of the Clinton Centre in Enniskillen on Sunday, November 26.

Stephen Gault, who was standing beside his father when the IRA bomb exploded and killed 12 people during Remembrance Sunday in Enniskillen on November 8, 1987, said he is “absolutely disgusted” about the graffiti.

“It’s disgusting and it brings it all back. We’re 36 years on from that atrocity and yet the Enniskillen families can’t grieve in peace, that there’s somebody within the community that feels that they have to go and daub the likes of IRA,” said Mr. Gault, adding: “I know people say it’s not on the memorial. It’s not the point, it’s on the building that replaced the one that was destroyed in the bomb.”

He noted how he has been speaking to several of the Enniskillen families about the graffiti.

“Like myself, they are absolutely disgusted about it. It’s re-traumatisation, it just feels like we can’t move on with our lives.

“Not that we’re going to forget what happened but the fact is that somebody feels that they think it’s funny going and daubing the likes of IRA on something that’s so sensitive to people,” said Mr. Gault, adding: “It’s like somebody is trying to stir in the community.

“I’ve said it before over the years, the IRA tried to divide the community but they didn’t, it worked the opposite. It actually brought the two communities closer together.

“To think that somebody has taken it upon themselves to go and do that, it’s just despicable.”

Keith McNair, director of UISCE, the organisation that currently holds the lease of the Clinton Centre commented that the incident was “unfortunate” .

He said: “Anybody from any community could have put it up. It’s unfortunate.”

Police in Enniskillen are treating the graffiti as a hate crime.

Representatives of victims support charities The Ely Centre and SEFF and the were among those who have condemned the graffiti.

A spokesperson for The Ely Centre said: “The Ely Centre are deeply disappointed that some individuals in our community felt compelled to vandalize a public building by daubing terrorist graffiti close to the Enniskillen Remembrance Day Memorial.”

“This disrespectful, blatantly sectarian and deluded action will undoubtedly cause deep hurt and distress to the families of the bereaved and injured, who only a few weeks ago congregated at the Memorial to remember the 36th Anniversary of the Poppy Day Massacre.”

Kenny Donaldson, Director of SEFF described the graffiti as a “deplorable action by those intent on inflicting further pain and anguish upon those already so grievously wronged”.

Deborah Erskine, DUP MLA for Fermanagh and South Tyrone commented that she was “absolutely disgusted” to see IRA graffiti in Enniskillen.

“It is completely disgraceful and does not represent this town or any right thinking person.”

In a joint statement with her DUP colleague, Councillor Keith Elliott, Mrs. Erskine said: “This is a wholly despicable act.

“Those responsible should be utterly ashamed for trying to whip up public tensions. The IRA was a terrorist organisation who killed and murdered scores of people. They do not deserve any public show of support.

UUP MLA for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, Tom Elliott, also condemned the IRA graffiti.

“This disgusting act of sectarianism is wholly unacceptable and must be condemned in its most potent form.

“I ask anyone to come forward with information they may have on this incident to the PSNI.”