Row at Belfast City Hall after Irish president's portrait removed from lord mayor's parlour
The lord mayor's parlour, used by Tracy Kelly, previously featured both portraits of King Charles and the Irish head of state side by side.
But at a council meeting, Sinn Fein said the portrait is no longer there.
The party questioned the lord mayor as to where the item has gone.
Other councillors have also noticed the missing portrait, the BBC reported.
Last week, on June 26, Ms Kelly posted images of her meeting with Orange Order representatives, teenage mothers and the US consulate.
Sinn Féin councillor Ryan Murphy asked the lord mayor about the absence of Mr Higgins' portrait.
'When our representatives have been in that position of being the mayor, there were certain things that we never took off the walls,' he said.
'There were certain things we felt were off limits.
"And so, when we were offered the royal portrait of the British King Charles [in March 2024], we accepted it, and we put it up.
"And we put it up alongside Uachtarán na hÉireann [President of Ireland] Michael D Higgins, and we marked it with a small event in the mayor's office.
"It's concerning that we have seen in recent weeks that that portrait is no longer there, and we would just ask where is that portrait?
'And what kind of message does it send out to people in this city who hold the president of Ireland in high regard?"
The lord mayor thanked Mr Murphy for bringing up his concerns, and said the issue was noted.
However, she refused to comment further.
News Catchup - July 1st 2025
When questioned about the issue, a council spokesperson said it was a matter for Mrs Kelly.
Meanwhile, a DUP spokesperson stated that the decoration of the lord mayor's office 'is not yet complete'.
'There will be further artefacts to be added in the next few weeks,' they said.
It is not the first time there has been controversy over the lord mayor's parlour.
In 2011 then Sinn Fein mayor Niall Ó Donnghaile removed images of then Prince Charles and the Queen Mother.
They were replaced with the 1916 proclamation and a portrait of the United Irishmen.
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