CARS have been vandalised because they are flying Down GAA flags, it has been claimed.

Down fans everywhere have been showing their support for James McCartan’s side during its march towards the All Ireland Senior Football Championship Final by attaching the miniature red and black flags to their vehicles.

However, according to Sean Doran, Sinn Fein’s spokesperson for the Mournes, “sectarian hate-filled thugs” have been targeting motors in Kilkeel that have the flags attached.

Mr Doran said he had received a number of complaints from drivers whose vehicles were damaged while parked in the ASDA car park, the Archways car park in Newry Street and also in the town centre.

“These attacks are being carried out by hate-filled thugs who cannot stand any form of nationalist expression and their actions, which have in many incidents caused damage to the vehicles, show a degree of shameful intolerance,” he said.

“It is my understanding a well known gang of teenagers, who for the past number of years have been involved in a good deal of anti-social activity in the Newry Street area, is responsible for carrying out these attacks on Down supporters.”

The Sinn Fein man said local unionist politicians must “show some leadership” on the issue.

He urged them to demand an end to the attacks and to call on the community to pass on any information about the culprits to the police.

Mr Doran’s Sinn Fein colleague Willie Clarke said he was aware of similar incidents, including one in Clough.

“It beggars belief that there are still sectarian bigots within our society who cannot countenance any form of Irishness,” the MLA said.

“Down’s success in getting to this year’s All Ireland Senior Football Final should be a source of pride for everyone, yet I have received a number of complaints from motorists whose cars have been targeted by loyalist thugs and small Down flags snapped from their cars.

“In a particularly nasty incident, a group of youths who had congregated at the roundabout in Clough attacked a woman’s car, stole the flag from the window and shouted sectarian abuse at her.

“She was left shocked and traumatised by the incident and I now challenge unionist representatives to show some leadership on this issue and demand that these attacks stop,” he concluded.