Belfast City Council u-turn over fine on LGBT artist

On the 13th of March 2015, our client Mr. Christoff Gillen was issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice from Belfast Council litter wardens for allegedly writing graffiti on the ground at Donegal Place, Belfast.

Mr. Gillen was performing a piece of performance art which was entitled ‘A Thousand and One Kisses.’ This performance involved writing the word “love” in coloured chalk throughout the city centre in order to create a “rainbow of love” particularly aimed at highlighting inequality of treatment of LGBT rights and marriage equality.

Mr. Gillen had previously participated in a similar act of performance art 12 years ago when he inscribed the name of more than 3,672 victims of the Troubles around City Hall in chalk.

After correspondence being sent from our office to Belfast City Council, the Council have agreed to waive this Fixed Penalty Notice.

Katie McAlister, of Madden & Finucane, said:

“The decision now made by Belfast City Council is correct and just in the context of our client expressing his views and raising awareness of LGBT rights through the medium of performance art.

“Mr. Gillen is understandably delighted with this outcome of this case.”