Cuidigh Linn defiant after arson attack
THE Dundalk based community service for elderly people Cuidigh Linn say they won’t be deterred from providing vital supports despite a suspected arson attack on their building last week.
Andrea Connolly, who runs the Muirhevnamor based service told the Argus she was ‘really shocked’ to see the damage to the roof of the premises.
‘It was around 10.20p.m on Tuesday last week when we were alerted the damage. We had only moved into the building at Park One in January, so it was really shocking.’
Andrea said they had just received a grant from the council to buy some new equipment, which was bring stored inside.
‘I panicked as I thought the equipment was damaged, but thankfully it was ok, and we have been able to keep the building open and keep operating.’
She explained that a lot of older people who rely on Cuidigh Linn were concerned that the attack might impact on services, but Andrea added they were determined it would not. Louth County Councillor Ruairí Ó Murchú also condemned the suspected arson attack which he says was ‘a disgraceful attack on an organisation offering services to the elderly.’
Cllr Ó Murchú said ‘Cuidigh Linn is a group who provide necessary services to elderly people in Dundalk and the surrounding region. They rent this premises from Louth County Council in order to carry out this valuable service. This attack was disgraceful.
He described the incident as ‘an attack on the entire community. Cuidigh Linn employs ten local people, we could have been reporting a tragedy today or these 10 people could have been out of work. It is absolutely unacceptable and the community demand action against these criminal gangs operating in the area.’ Cllr Ó Murchú also called for the speedy deployment of the promised Drugs and Organised Crime Unit and a strategy to deal with these criminal elements, and asked anyone with information on the incident to report it to Gardai.’