A specialist team started removing red paint from the Queen Victoria statue in the Royal Victoria Hospital grounds on February 27. Temporary fencing remains around the site until work finishes early this week. The Belfast Health and Social Care Trust confirmed the cleaning but gave no details on future security or moving the statue.

The republican organisation Lasair Dhearg shared an image on social media that Friday showing a supporter applying the paint. The group linked the action to the mid-19th century Irish potato famine during Queen Victoria's reign. It called for removing symbols of empire in a future socialist republic.

Police in Northern Ireland received a criminal damage report that day for the Grosvenor Road location in west Belfast. Investigations continue.

DUP member Phillip Brett described the incident as a disgrace. Ulster Unionist member Alan Chambers said diverting hospital resources for cleanup was irresponsible and showed disregard for public spaces, patients, and staff.