http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/Postbo ... 4573430.jp
Published Date: 09 October 2008
ROYAL Mail has been praised for speedily repainting a Newcastle postbox which had been painted green by republicans.
It is understood the post boxes in the town's Railway Street and Westland Avenue were painted green last Thursday night.
But the matter became commonly known yesterday and Royal Mail sent a contractor to repair the damage.
One of the boxes was painted red again yesterday and the other was marked for repainting, possibly this morning.
DUP MLA Jim Wells said he was "very pleased that Royal Mail are determined their post boxes will look fit for purpose".
He added: "This is just pure vandalism but at least the republicans used British racing green.
"But it is just ghastly looking. The back of the post box was left red and they have spilled the green paint all over the granite footpath which the council put down."
He said it was very irresponsible of Sinn Fein MLA Barry McElduff to endorse the repainting campaign, which has been quite common in Co Tyrone.
"It is ironic that some post boxes in the Republic from before partition are still red.
"So basically British postboxes in republican areas of Cork can be tolerated but those in a mixed area of Northern Ireland can't," he added.
Mr McElduff said he was not sure whether painting the postboxes was criminal damage.
"I am not sure about that, I have not taken legal advice," he said. "But I can say that it is good that people are making peaceful political statements.
"Royal Mail have won the race in repainting these boxes (in Newcastle]. I think it was because they had heard that members of the public were going to paint them red again."
A Royal Mail spokeswoman confirmed they were repainting the postboxes yesterday.
"Repairs to letterboxes, which includes repainting, will be carried out as part of our ongoing maintenance programme," she said.