'Irish Lives Matter' graffiti to be investigated as a hate incident, authorities say

Graffiti reading "Irish Lives Matter" in west Belfast will be investigated as a hate incident, according to Irish authorities. 

The graffiti appeared after a sign was put up in the Suffolk area on Tuesday, stating that the community "will no longer accept the re-housing of illegal immigrants," according to the BBC.

"We are treating the matter as a hate incident," Inspector Andrew Matson said, according to The Belfast Telegraph. The local police have urged anyone who has any information on the incident to contact them.

The slogan was written on a wall at the Kennedy Centre on the Falls Road yesterday evening. 

Gerry Carroll, a member of the Legislative Assembly of Northern Ireland, condemned the slogan, saying that there was "no place in our society for this kind of racist poison."

Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey said the signs were "disgraceful."

"Political and community leaders must stand together to continue building a safe, welcoming and inclusive society for all," he said.