Hundreds of motorcycle fans have visited a memorial to Joey Dunlop which was destroyed on Thursday. Dan Keenan reports.
The bikers, who were on their way to the North West 200 event in Co Antrim, were paying tribute to the motorcycle star, who died in 2000.
A granite memorial and garden in Dunlop's native Ballymoney had been erected in his memory.
Police believe vandals used a sledgehammer to wreck the monument in an attack that has prompted widespread condemnation.
Many of those visiting the desecrated memorial yesterday wept at the scale of the destruction.
Dunlop, hailed as the King of the Road and known colloquially as Yer Maun, was world champion five times and won the North West 200 some 13 times.
His mother, Mary, said: "I'm just so angry that anyone would do the like of this."
The Mayor of Ballymoney, Mr Frank Campbell, said: "We are very, very upset that this has happened because it was one of the places in the town that we thought would be left alone because of the greatness of the man that it is dedicated to."
The SDLP and Sinn Féin also condemned the attack. Dr Sean Farren, an SDLP Assembly member, said such vandalism "diminishes us all".
Sinn Féin's Mr Philip McGuigan added: "This attack has caused widespread anger and annoyance in the community and is without doubt causing extreme distress to the Dunlop family."