Iconic Donegall Quay artwork damaged in early-hours incident
A man has appeared in court accused of inflicting more than £10,000 damage on the Big Fish sculpture, a prominent public artwork on Donegall Quay in the city centre.
At Belfast Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 44-year-old Peter Luke Smith, described as being of no fixed abode and originally from England, was charged with criminal damage and three counts of possessing items with intent to damage property. The damage is reported to have affected ceramic tiles around the sculpture’s left eye.
- Date and time: Police were called at around 12.30am on Sunday.
- Location: Big Fish (Salmon of Knowledge), Donegall Quay, Belfast city centre.
- Alleged implements: hatchet, hammer and sledgehammer.
- Estimated cost of damage: over £10,000.
A witness account given to police, and reported in court, said a member of the public observed the defendant using a long-handled object to damage the structure and detained him until officers arrived. A backpack carried by the man was searched and found to contain a hammer and a small hatchet. While officers examined the scene, a sledgehammer was located in a nearby bush close to the defendant, a police constable told the court.
"While assessing the damage to the Big Fish police located a sledgehammer in a nearby bush close to the defendant,"
Prosecution argued the scale of the damage and the defendant’s record in England presented a risk he might not return if granted bail. The officer said the estimated cost of repairs exceeded £10,000.
Defence counsel informed the court the accused had flown to Belfast the previous week and stayed at an Airbnb for several days. Counsel said his client accepted the offences but had provided no explanation in court for his actions, and that he was under the care of psychiatric services in the Peterborough area. The barrister also told the court the defendant did not attempt to use the items against the person who detained him.
"He said he found these items and he is accepting this offence,"
Magistrates refused bail, citing a risk of re-offending or absconding, and remanded the defendant in custody until 19 October. The charges put before him were criminal damage and three counts of possessing an item with intent to damage property.
Local context and implications
The Big Fish, often referred to as the Salmon of Knowledge, has been a familiar feature on the River Lagan waterfront since its installation in 1999 and is a frequent stop for visitors to the city. Damage to the artwork provokes concern not only about the cost and disruption of repairs but also about the protection of public art and shared civic spaces in Belfast.
Officials and community groups frequently emphasise the importance of preserving such landmarks that contribute to the city’s identity and tourism offer. Repairs to ceramic-clad sculptures can be specialist and costly; the prosecution’s estimate underlines the financial impact on local authorities or other custodians who are responsible for maintenance.
| Item | Reported |
|---|---|
| Damaged part | Left eye (ceramic tiles) |
| Suspected implements | Hatchet, hammer, sledgehammer |
| Estimated repair cost | Over £10,000 |
Police enquiries remain ongoing. The case highlights tensions between protecting public amenities and addressing issues around mental health and criminal behaviour — matters frequently raised in local debate. The court heard the accused is known to psychiatric services in England, but no motive for the alleged attack was provided at this stage.
The defendant remains in custody ahead of the next hearing in October, while the city awaits further detail on repair plans for the damaged sculpture and any community or council response to securing the riverside landmark.
