Surveillance is being stepped up at Stormont after a series of deliberate attempts to flood toilet facilities in Parliament Buildings. The incidents, which have occurred over recent weeks, have prompted warnings from the Assembly Commission about the potential compromise to safety and operations.
TUV MLA Timothy Gaston revealed that sinks have been deliberately blocked and taps left running, particularly in male toilets. In one instance, the same toilet was flooded multiple times in a single day. Gaston noted that the affected areas are only accessible to Assembly pass-holders, including MLAs, their staff, and Assembly employees.
Gaston condemned the behaviour as vandalism, stating: 'Parliament Buildings is supposed to be the seat of government in Northern Ireland, not a playground for vandalism. The idea that people who work here could be responsible for this sort of behaviour is beyond belief.' He added that taxpayers are footing the bill for damage and clean-up, calling it 'completely unacceptable' at a time when services are under pressure.
The Assembly Commission emailed MLAs and staff earlier this week, describing the flooding as a 'serious matter that could compromise the safety and operational use of Parliament Buildings'. They confirmed that surveillance has been increased across all floors and urged anyone with information to report incidents.
A spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Assembly stated: 'We can confirm that there have been a number of flooding incidents in the toilet areas of Parliament Buildings over the last few months. These incidents have been handled quickly and fortunately, to date, have not resulted in damage or costs. However, this is a serious matter which could compromise the safety and operational use of Parliament Buildings and so, as a result of these incidents, we have increased surveillance across all floors.'
