Louts on rampage in Listowel ahead of Tidy Towns visit
VANDALS went on the rampage in Listowel’s Town Park on Monday night, destroying benches, bins and bollards – just as the first visit from the national Tidy Towns’ judges is expected.
It’s an act that could potentially affect the famous Tidy Towns competitor town with just one point separating it from the overall winners.
Locals were outraged by the scene in the town park yesterday (Tuesday) morning – which included the absolute destruction of a costly park bench installed just earlier this year; and the destruction of two brand new ‘dog’ bins.
One of the bins was discovered in the River Feale alongside a steel bollard that was ripped up and likely used to smash the bin. Gardaí are now investigating and appeal for witnesses.
“We are disgusted. It’s just so deeply frustrating to see something like this given the amount of hard work the Tidy Towns members and locals have put in to making Listowel, and the Park, look their very best,” Tidy Towns member and Fianna Fáil County Councillor Jimmy Moloney told The Kerryman on Tuesday.
THERE is outrage in Listowel after vandals went on a spree of criminal damage in the town’s park on Monday night, smashing park benches, bins and ripping up at least one steel bollard.
The outrageous act has come as a particular kick in the teeth to the hard-working Listowel Tidy Towns group, just as they expect the first inspection from the national judges.
Gardaí in Listowel are now investigating the incident and appeal for witnesses to help them track down the culprits.
Local Fianna Fáil County Councillor and Tidy Towns member Jimmy Moloney told The Kerryman that all users of the town’s otherwise top-notch park were left deeply upset by the mindless actions of the thug vandals.
The actions were discovered early on Tuesday morning, to the great dismay of everyone. “People have been left deeply upset by what can only be described as mindless vandalism. A park bench which was installed just this year was smashed to pieces (pictured) and they ripped up a steel bollard which they then used to smash two brand new bins for dog foul to pieces as well, throwing one of the bins into the river along with the bollard,” Cllr Moloney explained.
“We are disgusted. It’s just so deeply frustrating to see something like this given the amount of hard work the Tidy Towns members and locals have put in to making Listowel, and the Park, look its very best.
“It will be cleaned up and the equipment replaced as soon as possible but it could also cost Listowel dearly in the national Tidy Towns as, for all we know, the first inspection of our town could be underway today. But we are not going to let this impede us,” Cllr Moloney added.