A war memorial in Motherwell has been targeted by “cowardly” vandals for a second time in just a matter of weeks.
The tribute to the 40 volunteers from North Lanarkshire who fought in the Spanish Civil War against fascism, was left seriously damaged, just weeks after it was painted with sickening graffiti.
The stone memorial in Motherwell’s Duchess of Hamilton Park, dedicated to the volunteers who joined the International Brigades to fight against General Franco in the Spanish Civil War, has been left with a collection of dents in its surface which appear to have come from hammer blows or a similar heavy object.
Last month vandals painted the word “vermin” at the foot of the memorial and the name Franco on two stones commemorating the volunteers.
Steven McGowan and his six-year-old son, also Steven, from Wishaw went to the Spanish Civil War Memorial in Motherwell after hearing it had been damaged on June 26.
They cleaned the stone up with the youngster was pictured wearing a Paris Saint Germain top at the time.
The Parisian club’s president got wind of the father and son’s good deed, sending him a package of club goodies including a signed Neymar Junior top and an invitation to a match at the Parc des Princes.
He wrote a letter to the youngster praising him for his “selflessness and hard work”.
The latest damage happened on the eighth anniversary of its unveiling in Motherwell.
The committee were unable to hold their annual remembrance service due to COVID restrictions, but had gathered to lay wreaths at its base.
The committee’s Andy Jones told Lanarkshire Live : “I don’t want to speculate on whether it’s the same people who are responsible this time.
“If it is then they’ve realised that the graffiti is a hassle, but could be cleaned off fairly easily, whereas this is not so easy to fix.
"The whole committee was there yesterday. Most of us have the impression that it was probably a hammer as the marble is quite hard.
"It’s been something very heavy anyway. It’s at the rear where the inscription is.
“The first time it wasn’t just someone randomly spraying paint – they know what the memorial is for.”
The latest attack on the memorial has led MSP Gillian Mackay to call on North Lanarkshire Council to consider installing CCTV in the vicinity.
Commenting, Gillian Mackay MSP said “I’m glad the committee were still able to visit the park, socially distanced, to lay wreaths and I was glad to be in attendance alongside local activists and trade unionists.
“The attacks on this monument in recent months is a reminder that we still have a lot of work to do in Scotland to tackle fascism, racism, and all forms of discrimination.
"It is a cowardly act and those responsible must be held to account.
"I would call on North Lanarkshire Council to urgently explore the option of installing CCTV to limit any future damage or identify any future perpetrators and ask anyone with information to contact Police Scotland.”
North Lanarkshire's Provost Jean Jones called the attack "utterly vile," adding that "words cannot describe how appalled" she was.
Provost Jones said she hope anyone with any information would contact the police "as a matter of urgency".
Information can be given to police on 101. Information can be left anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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