An attendee of an Irish language class in Belfast has said she will not be put off by “low level intimidation” after anti-Irish posters were left on cars outside the venue.
On Monday evening, students at the Irish language conversational class held at The Points bar on the Dublin Road left the venue to find anti-Irish language posters left on their cars which stated “English is our mother tongue” and that “most Irish people should hate the Irish language”.
It also claims “Irish governments” force people to speak Irish and “Ireland’s Christianity is a much more important part of Ireland’s heritage than the language ever was”, while the government “would do much more for the Irish people if they taught Latin in our schools instead of Irish”.
Police are investigating anti-Irish language posters placed on cars in Belfast on Monday evening
Police are treating the distribution of the flyers as a hate incident.
A woman who attends the class, who wished to remain anonymous, said she believes it’s “too random” for it not to be deliberate considering the Irish class takes place in the area.
“It’s a free Irish language class every Monday and Thursday, it’s conversational, drop in and drop out and around 10-20 people go every week,” she said.
“When we came out last night around 8.30pm we were standing chatting at the door, and one of the other students came running back to us shouting ‘this was on my car’ and she showed us it.
“It was only when we looked around, we realised that the area’s cars had it on them.”
Anti-Irish language leaflet on a car windscreen
“I feel like it’s targeted. The writing is a bit rambly, but it’s weird that they done it when we were there. The Points then called the police, who then called me, and they confirmed they are treating it as a hate incident.”
She said although she understands “there is free speech” she is distressed at the fact it was targeted at the class.
“It’s a lovely little class that just promotes learning a language.”
The student said she hopes the incident doesn’t put people off.
“Some of the students were a little worried, some asked to be walked to their car — people were worried they were being watched. People are freaked out and a little worried.
“It won’t put me off, but it’s just disappointing. To get this low-level of intimidation in 2024, nearly 2025, is wrong.”
A PSNI spokesperson said: “Police received a report of leaflets being placed on a number of vehicles parked in the Dublin Road area on Monday evening, December 9.
“Inquiries are ongoing into this report, which is being treated as a hate incident.”