LISTEN: Police probe image of Bobby Storey poster condemned as 'vile' by a Sinn Fein MP

By Brett Campbell

Police are investigating reports of a hate crime after images of a "grossly insulting" Bobby Storey poster were circulated on social media. 

It shows a photograph of the veteran IRA leader and his funeral cortege which is accompanied with the words "raised in west Belfast, burnt in loyalist east Belfast."    

Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey has called on unionist political leaders to condemn the 'hatemongers' who have a ‘vile poster’ of Bobby Storey in East Belfast.

SF statement: pic.twitter.com/QbmTf38VhW

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Chief Inspector Peter Brannigan said: "Police received a report shortly before 9:50pm last night about an image on social media.

“The matter was reported as a hate crime.

"Enquiries are continuing."

A Sinn Féin MP has called on unionist politicians to condemn those who designed the "vile" poster which appeared after Belfast City Council voted in favour of a probe into the circumstances surrounding the funeral at Roselawn Crematorium last week.  

Paul Maskey described the banner as a "depraved display of sectarian hatred". 

He also warned that the incident is 'grossly insulting' to the Storey family.