Paramilitary Murals and Memorials Persist on Public Housing Land

Published: 19 November 2025 Wednesday . The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

Northern Ireland’s public housing estates are home to nearly 200 murals and memorials linked to paramilitary groups, according to documents obtained by BBC News NI. These displays, largely unauthorised, appear across properties managed by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE), highlighting the enduring legacy of conflict in the region and raising questions about how public space is managed and regulated.

The records reveal that these murals and memorials are not limited to one political community. They include loyalist and republican imagery, alongside other memorials with no specific alignment. The NIHE has acknowledged the difficulty in managing such displays, noting that “issues with murals, memorials, and flags can be difficult to deal with and no single agency can be solely responsible.” Despite this, the public body is actively involved in “re-imaging” projects, which aim to work with communities to change or remove contentious and territorial displays.

In total, more than 400 murals and memorials have been identified on NIHE land and property. Of these, over 300 are considered either loyalist or republican in nature, while the remainder are unaligned or unspecified. A significant number—177—are directly related to paramilitary organisations, including the Irish Republican Army (IRA), the Ulster Defence Association (UDA), and the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF).

An assessment carried out by NIHE in June this year specifically recorded the number and location of memorials on its land, identifying 134 as a starting point for further review. Yet despite these figures, enforcement and oversight remain complex. Many murals and memorials have been erected without permission, often as a result of community-driven initiatives or local pressures that can make removal or alteration contentious.

One notable example occurred earlier this year when a statue of IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands was installed on NIHE land in the Twinbrook area of west Belfast. The statue, unveiled without the Executive’s permission, immediately drew attention from both political figures and the public. First Minister Michelle O’Neill attended the unveiling and defended her decision, while Belfast City Council continues to investigate the lack of planning approval. The incident underscores the challenge authorities face in regulating memorials that hold deep symbolic meaning for certain communities while being unauthorised under existing planning and public land use rules.

Another example comes from the loyalist Mount Vernon estate in north Belfast, where a paramilitary mural damaged during Storm Darragh last year was recently restored. The NIHE confirmed that the restoration took place without formal permission and stated there are currently no plans to remove the mural, citing concerns about staff and contractor safety as a priority consideration. This illustrates a broader tension between respecting community sentiment and maintaining legal oversight of public property.

The issue has gained traction in the Northern Ireland Assembly, where members recently debated the prevalence of unauthorised memorials on public land. The debate followed a motion by the Alliance Party calling for ministers to conduct a full audit of memorials and lead a programme supporting communities to re-image these sites by removing paramilitary imagery. Proponents argue that removing or re-imaging paramilitary murals can foster social cohesion and reduce the symbolic presence of violence in everyday life, particularly in housing estates where residents include families and children.

Artists and community practitioners involved in re-imaging projects stress that engagement with local residents is crucial to success. Belfast-based artist Lesley Cherry, who has been leading such projects for around 15 years, emphasises that relationship-building often matters more than imposing directives. “You don’t want to be going in and saying, ‘This is what you have to do,’ because they’ll just tell you exactly where to go,” Cherry explains. She highlights that a collaborative approach, where communities are actively involved in deciding the form and content of re-imaged murals, can lead to more sustainable and widely accepted outcomes.

Re-imaging initiatives typically involve transforming murals and memorials into artworks that celebrate culture, history, or community achievements, rather than commemorating paramilitary activity. These projects can be sensitive and complex, requiring negotiation, trust, and careful management of community expectations. For many residents, the murals and memorials represent identity, memory, and history, making the process of change challenging. Yet advocates argue that such transformation is vital for promoting shared public spaces that are safe and inclusive for all.

The presence of paramilitary murals and memorials on NIHE land also raises broader societal questions. Critics argue that these displays can perpetuate division and hinder reconciliation efforts, particularly in areas with a history of sectarian violence. For younger residents growing up in these neighbourhoods, such imagery can normalize conflict and reinforce territorial boundaries, affecting community cohesion and perceptions of safety.

At the same time, some political representatives caution against unilateral removal of these memorials, highlighting that a nuanced approach is necessary to avoid inflaming tensions. Northern Ireland’s recent history of political and social instability means that public interventions must be carefully calibrated. Community consultation, engagement with local leaders, and transparent communication are essential components of any policy aimed at re-imaging or removing contentious displays.

The NIHE continues to monitor and respond to the evolving situation, balancing legal responsibilities with sensitivity to local community dynamics. The organisation has reiterated its commitment to supporting initiatives that foster social harmony while ensuring public spaces are safe and compliant with planning regulations. However, the sheer scale of the issue—nearly 200 paramilitary-linked murals and memorials—demonstrates the challenges involved and highlights the need for a coordinated strategy involving multiple agencies, including housing authorities, local councils, and community organisations.

As Northern Ireland continues to grapple with the legacy of its past, the presence of paramilitary imagery on public housing land remains a visible and potent reminder of the region’s conflict. Addressing the issue requires a careful blend of enforcement, dialogue, and creative solutions that acknowledge the historical and cultural significance of these murals while promoting peace, safety, and inclusivity in public spaces.

Ultimately, the ongoing debate around paramilitary murals and memorials reflects broader efforts to reconcile memory, identity, and community in Northern Ireland. While the murals and memorials serve as markers of history and memory for some, they are also symbolic of the violence that shaped communities for decades. Moving forward, the challenge for public authorities, artists, and community leaders is to find pathways that respect heritage while fostering environments where all residents feel safe, represented, and included.