Vandals rip up park benches in Dominick’s Park area

VANDALS ripped up park benches and damaged trees, uprooting one, during a midnight rampage in St. Dominick’s Park, Drogheda, on Monday.

Yet less than 24 hours later, the Corporation had a request from the Drogheda Youth Society for permission to begin cleaning the Ramparts Walk nearby. The destruction in the Park was condemned by the Mayor of Drogheda. Mr. Eugene Hughes, and a local tenants leader.

Five benches with concrete bases were ripped from the ground and scattered along the main pathway in the Park , so that it resembled a steeplechase. Branches were torn from trees and one was uprooted.

The damage was done after the caretaker had gone home at 10 p.m. He said this was the worst in a series of attacks on the Park in recent years.

Said Mr. Eugene Hughes, Mayor of Drogheda : “I hope the culprits are caught and severely dealt with. It is only a lame excuse to blame this type of behaviour on the lack of facilities in Drogheda. There are a large number of clubs and organisations which the young people in the town can join.”

Mr. Gerry Byrne, secretary of the Ballsgrove Tenants’ Association, said : “There seems to be a lack of community spirit in most parts of Drogheda. Our organisation is trying to get people interested in their own areas, so that this type of behaviour can be stamped out.”

Then at Tuesday mght’s Corporation meeting came the request from the Youth Society for permission to weed and clean the popular Ramparts Walk, which has been neglected in recent years’.

The move was welcomed by members, who said the youths should be given every encouragement. Said Mr. Buckley: “This is a welcome change after all the damage which has been done in the past.”