Finaghy: Police say hateful graffiti is a hate crime

The misspelled graffiti sprayed on Takura Makoni's house is being treated as hate motivated criminal damage

A Finaghy man has said he will not be deterred from speaking out after his home was sprayed with 'hate-motivated' graffiti.

Takura Makoni's house was targeted during the early hours of Sunday.

In March, Mr Makoni spoke out against anti-immigration signs which were put up in and around the Finaghy area of south Belfast.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) have confirmed they are treating the latest incident as a hate crime.

Mr Makoni told BBC News NI he believes his home has been targeted for speaking out.

"This is the action of one person who can identify me. When you speak out, people target you," he said.

Mr Makoni, who is a community worker with the African and Caribbean Support Organisation in Northern Ireland, said he hopes to use what has happened to "create a dialogue to move towards a more cohesive society".

He said he has "always felt welcome" in Northern Ireland and "this does not change that".

"I have lived in Northern Ireland for over 20 years. I am at a place now where I am confident that Northern Ireland is a place that does not want to go in this direction, into a hateful place."

Mr Makoni said his 15-year-old son, who was first to see the spray-painted graffiti on the front of their home, had pleaded for him to stop his community work.

However he added: "This does not make me feel unwelcome, clearly this is just rogue elements within our community.

"I believe that if there is a dialogue with them a resolution can be had.

"Instead of wasting paint, they should have just knocked on my door. I would have offered them a cup of tea , sat down and talked with them."

'Appalling and sinister'

South Belfast Alliance MLA Kate Nicholl has condemned the attack.

"This is an appalling and sinister attack which was designed to threaten Takura for speaking out," she said. "Those behind it do not represent south Belfast which is a community of compassionate, kind and welcoming people."However, that does not diminish its impact on those people who are being targeted. It creates fear and it is completely unacceptable."

Ms Nicholl also appealed for all political parties "to come together and condemn racism".

PSNI Chief Inspector Mark Conway said: "We are treating this as a hate-motivated crime and our enquiries are ongoing.

"The sentiment expressed is unacceptable and I am appealing to anyone with information that could assist enquiries to get on touch."