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Graffiti threatening senior district judge Mark Hamill has appeared on a wall outside Newtownards courthouse.

The damage happened before a number of defendants were due to appear in court on Wednesday in relation to long-running feuds between loyalist factions in the area.

A number of windows were also smashed in the attack.

In court on Wednesday, Judge Hamill said Newtownards Magistrates' Court will not be intimidated.

Judge Hamill told the court the incident was "an existential threat to the rule of law in Newtownards".

"I do not care which side of this gangster drug feud attacked the court," he added.

"If anyone thinks that damaging the court and behaving in this way that the court will be intimidated - this court is not going to be intimidated.

"It's a threat to the rule of law in Ards and will be treated as such."

Independent unionist councillor Steven Irvine described it as a "totally and utterly disgraceful" act.

Moira Smyth KC, chair of the Bar of Northern Ireland, said "judges must be able to decide cases solely on the evidence presented in court".

"It is vital in our society that individual judges and the judiciary as a whole are free from external pressure and threat," she said.

"An attack or threat made against any member of our judiciary is an attack on the rule of law and our democracy, and is condemned without equivocation."

The Law Society of Northern Ireland said it condemns the threat to Judge Hamill "in the strongest possible terms".

"Judicial independence is a cornerstone of any democratic society and our courts must be free to apply the law free from external pressure or intimidation," it said in a statement.

The Department of Justice said the vandalism was a matter for the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and it would not be commenting further.

The PSNI said it was investigating the incident and asked anyone who may have witnessed suspicious activity between 18:00 BST on Tuesday and 07:30 on Wednesday to contact them.