Police in East Belfast are investigating an incident involving a postman after CCTV footage appeared to show him deliberately kicking over Pride-themed garden items outside a home in Rosebery Gardens. The act is being treated as a homophobic hate crime..png)
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Ring doorbell video from the property shows the postman approaching the house to make a delivery before glancing around to ensure no one was watching. He then kicked over a rainbow-themed garden gnome and a planter containing a Pride flag.
One of the occupants of the house, who asked not to be named, said she and her fiancée were shocked when they reviewed the footage after returning home to find the damage.
“We were absolutely stunned when we checked the Ring footage. You never expect to see your own postman looking around to make sure the coast is clear and then deliberately kicking over your property,” she told BelfastLive.
“It wasn’t just a gnome and a planter. It felt like a targeted message, and that’s what has really shaken us. There’s no doubt in our minds that this was a homophobic act. These items weren’t obstructing him. He sought them out and kicked them over on purpose.”
The couple said they reported the incident to Royal Mail on Sunday and were assured they would receive a callback, but had not heard back.
“We expected at least some reassurance or acknowledgement that what happened was unacceptable. Instead, we’ve heard nothing, which has added to the stress of the situation,” she said. “We’re not trying to cause trouble, but we don’t want anyone else to face something like this.”
Police Launch Investigation
Inspector Adams confirmed the incident was reported to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) at around 11:15 a.m. on Sunday, 7 December.
“It was reported that a man observed at the property at around 3.35 p.m. on Saturday, 6 December, looked directly at the plant pot before deliberately kicking it over,” he said. “This incident is being treated as a homophobic hate crime and our enquiries are ongoing.”
He urged anyone with information, including CCTV or other footage, to contact police on 101, quoting reference 587 of 07/12/25. Reports can also be submitted online via the PSNI’s non-emergency form or anonymously through Crimestoppers.
Royal Mail Responds
A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “We have viewed the footage and referred it to local management for investigation. We take this seriously and are looking into what happened as a priority.”
In a later update, Royal Mail confirmed that the individual involved was an agency worker and that his contract assignment had been terminated with immediate effect.
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