James Nesbitt 'unnerved' by graffiti targeting him in Portrush

James Nesbitt, who is from a unionist background, addressed the Ireland's Future event in Dublin this month

Actor James Nesbitt has said he is "unnerved" and "saddened" after being targeted with graffiti, which police are treating as a hate crime.

A message mentioning him was painted on a wall in Portrush, County Antrim, and featured a crosshair next to it.

Politicians have condemned the message and have described it as an attempt to intimidate and stifle debate.

It comes weeks after the Cold Feet and Bloodlands star addressed a forum in Dublin discussing a united Ireland.

He told BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback programme: "It really saddens me because I am just really sorry this has been brought to Portrush; brought to my neighbours; brought to the community I love."

• Listen: James Nesbitt responds to 'hate crime' graffiti

Mr Nesbitt said the message and its sentiment did not reflect the views of the majority of residents in Portrush.

The message read: "1x king, 1x crown, no Pope in our town James Nesbitt."

'Never shied away'

He said he believed that some people had "misunderstood" his position after he participated in the Ireland's Future conference at the beginning of October.

"In a democracy people are entitled to engage in a public conversation about the future and that is all I was intending to do when I took part in the debate," he said.

"I certainly don't promote any solution and I don't support any outcome."

He described himself as a "proud Protestant from the north of Ireland".

"I have never shied away from my Protestant culture but it doesn't define me," he said.

The graffiti is believed to have been daubed on the wall on Tuesday or Wednesday

"If there is going to be change in the relationship between the north and the south [of Ireland] and the rest of the British Isles, then I was hoping to put forward the point that people from my tradition feel that their identity is in no way threatened and they have an equal voice."

The actor said he found out about the graffiti as he was travelling back from a holiday.

Police said it appeared on a wall near Bushmills Road in Portrush some time between 17:00 BST on Tuesday and 19:30 on Wednesday.

'Right to express his views'

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) politician Gregory Campbell said: "Jimmy Nesbitt is a local lad who has invested in his own community.

"Those painting threatening graffiti such as this should stop," said the MP.

"Their actions are wrong and to be condemned.

"I fundamentally disagree with Mr Nesbitt's position on Northern Ireland's future but he has every right to express his political views in whatever forum he wishes."

Former Northern Ireland First Minister Dame Arlene Foster said: "I totally condemn this attack on James Nesbitt even though I fundamentally disagree with him."

Caoimhe Archibald, a Sinn Féin assembly member, said the graffiti was a "sinister effort to silence debate" and she called for those behind it to be held accountable.

The SDLP's Cara Hunter described the graffiti as "absolutely disgraceful".

"People are fully entitled to have their own beliefs without intimidation or threat," she added.