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Royal Mail has banned a postman from working while the police investigate an incident described as a possible hate crime, after the delivery worker was caught on camera knocking over a rainbow garden gnome and Pride-flagged planter.
The incident occurred on 6 December in east Belfast at around 3.35 pm, according to Ring doorbell footage. The camera appears to show the postman, who was working as an agency supply, checking the street before deliberately kicking over both the rainbow-coloured gnome and a planter displaying a Pride flag.
Watch: Royal Mail postman incident being treated as homophobic hate crime doorbell footage from the property shows the postman approaching the house to make a delivery before checking that no one was watching & kicks over a rainbow garden gnome & planter containing a Pride flag. pic.twitter.com/jUjFhfEvmX
— Lynne 💖 (@HartStoppaUK) December 10, 2025
One of the occupants, who discovered the footage later, said: “We were absolutely stunned… you never expect to see your own postman looking around to make sure the coast is clear and then deliberately kicking over your property.”
They described the episode as intentionally homophobic, adding: “It felt like a targeted message… there’s no doubt in our minds that this was a homophobic act.”
Royal Mail subsequently confirmed the individual involved was a temporary agency worker. His assignment was terminated with immediate effect, and he has been indefinitely banned from duty pending the outcome of investigations.
A company spokesperson said they “terminated the contract assignment with immediate effect” following their investigation.
