MINDLESS ACT OF VANDALISM
Hunt for culprits as Round wood soccer pitches destroyed by car
WIDESPREAD disgust has been expressed after two pitches belonging to Roundwood AFC were badly damaged on Saturday night by a car carrying out doughnuts on the surface.
The damage was discovered by the groundsman early on Sunday morning as he prepared to mark the pitches for games taking place later that day.
Gardai are investigating the act of vandalism and are currently reviewing CCTV footage.
Cllr Shay Cullen says: ‘I regard this as an attack on the whole community.’
Two football pitches belonging to Roundwood AFC were severely damaged over the weekend after culprits broke into the club grounds and proceeded to destroy the surface by carrying out doughnut manoeuvres in a car.
The wanton act of vandalism occurred some time on Saturday night and club officials only became aware of the damage when the grounds man went to open up the grounds on Sunday morning in preparation for matches due to take place that day.
Club Chairman Shane Langrell said the local community has been left ‘disgusted’ by the attack.
‘Whoever was responsible opened up the barrier and then proceeded to scramble all around the pitches in a vehicle. You can clearly see the marks where they carried out doughnuts and destroyed parts of the surface.
‘People are extremely annoyed. We are a small community-led club and people are disgusted. Only last week a referee rang me up to congratulate us on the standard of the pitches and the quality of our grounds.’
The vandalism was reported to the Gardai who are viewing local CCTV footage to try and identify those responsible.
Both the senior pitch and the junior pitch were dug up during Saturday night’s rampage and the club is still ascertaining the cost of the repairs required.
Earlier in the summer, someone managed to gain entry into the astro-turf pitch and attempted to set sections of it alight, resulting in three scorched areas which will cost around €800 to fix.
‘Every penny counts for a club like ourselves so these attacks are just so disappointing.
‘We have 140 kids in the club and 25 seniors so we are very much at the heart of the community. I have to thank everyone for their support. People have been brilliant,’ added Shane.
Cllr Shay Cullen has appealed to anyone with information over the vandalism to contact the local Gardai.
‘I regard this as an attack on the whole community. They are a very busy club and this sort of behaviour is totally unacceptable.
‘If anyone knows who was involved or saw any suspect behaviour on the night in question then they should contact the local Garda Station.’