SCHOOL IS SMASHED UP TWICE IN WEEK
A WEXFORD town school has been raided by thieves and vandals twice in the past week.
The Educate Together primary school was first broken into last week by thieves who stole eleven iPads, worth more than €5,000, as well as other equipment, and who left behind a trail of destruction in ransacked offices and classrooms.
The stolen iPads were quickly recovered at a Wexford town address by gardai who questioned two 16 year olds about the theft and the vandalism. Over the past weekend, raiders struck again at the school, smashing doors and windows.
Principal Maria Caesar, who closed the school for a day following the first incident, said it was sad to think a primary school was being targeted in this way.
‘I was devastated when I saw the damage. It felt like an attack on the school and an attack on the children. You could see the upset on the faces of the children. You would hate to think they were frightened by it,’ said Maria.
THE Educate Together primary school in Wexford was forced to close down for a day last week after thieves broke in and stole equipment, leaving behind a trail of destruction in ransacked classrooms and offices.
A few days later, the school was again attacked by vandals who smashed doors and windows.
Staff and pupils were shocked and upset after the first break-in which was discovered by a staff member who arrived at the school premises in Whitemill Industrial Estate last Tuesday morning. at about 8.30 a.m.
Later in the day, 11 iPads worth more than €5,000, taken from the school, were recovered in a Wexford town estate. Two 16 year olds were questioned by gardai who are sending a report to the Juvenile Liason Officer.
During the incident intruders smashed glass in a rear door to gain entry to the building before breaking an internal glass window to get into the office and ransacking cupboards in classrooms, store rooms and the staff room.
The thieves made away with valuable electronic equipment, including the iPads, and left behind a trail of debris.
All of the classrooms were ransacked, forcing the school principal Maria Caesar to close the school and send 164 pupils home for the day while the job of tidying up and repairing windows got underway.
‘I was devastated when I saw the damage. It felt like an attack on the school and an attack on the children. You could see the upset on the faces of the children. You would hate to think they were frightened by it,’ said Maria who was determined to get things back to normal as quickly as possible.
‘We have a great school community and a great staff. We will open up tomorrow with a smile on our faces and we will reassure all of the children’, she said.
‘Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for schools to be targeted for vandalism and break-ins,’ she added.
Meanwhile, the school was again targeted between Friday night, March 24, and Sunday, March 26. Gardai said its external doors and an office window were smashed. Nothing appears to have been taken.
‘ The incident is under investigation,’ said a garda spokesman.
‘It’s just sad to think that a primary schoool is being targeted,’ said Maria.
‘We will be holding a fundraiser in May to try to cover some of the costs we have incurred, she said.