POLICE in the US are investigating an anti-immigrant graffiti attack on an iconic Irish bar and restaurant over the weekend.
The owners of Browne's Irish Market in Kansas City, Missouri - which prides itself as "North America's oldest Irish business" - discovered the vile spray-painted slogan on Monday.
The words "IMMIGRANTS NOT WELCOME" were sprayed onto the front exterior wall of the establishment - which was founded back in 1887 by Kerry couple Ed and Mary Flavin.
Current owner Jon McClain told local news station KSHB: "I wasn't aware of anything and then one of our customers came in and said 'I'm sorry about your building.'
Kansas City’s oldest business, Browne’s Irish Marketplace, is defaced with offensive graffiti. “Immigrants not welcome.” I am particularly offended. #Shameful #Brownes #BrownesIrishMarketplace #KansasCity pic.twitter.com/ztlPZKuWQR
— Shannon O'Brien (@ShannonOBTV) June 11, 2018
"I replied 'What do you mean?' and he brought me out and I saw it".
Mr McClain added that he had filed a report with Kansas City Police Department, who told him they would assign a detective to the case.
The proud Irish-American blamed a recent rise in xenophobic rhetoric in the US on the attack.
"We are not about hate. We are about kindness and love. It's a shame that somebody was ignorant enough to put that on the outside of our building," said McClain.
"Our political environment right now seems to be nurturing a lot of this type of activity.
"I feel like in many ways we've stepped back about 50 years."
