Vandals destroy SVPs used clothes

July 1988

IF YOU were walking along The Mall in Wicklow a couple of weeks ago you might have noticed the St Vincet de Paul Society dumping a mountain of used clothes into a skip.

You might have wondered just what they thought they were playing at dumping donations out like that. Unfortunately, the society has fallen victim to a particularly cynical and sickening form of vandalism. For the first time on its 20 year history, the premises at Ozanam House, has been hit by a spate of recent breakins, which occurred just two weeks ago, didn’t involve any theft.

The desperados merely covered clothes meant for the needy with oil, butter and any other liquid to hand. Pascal Burke, a local representative of the association reluctantly took the decision that over 75 per cent of the stock was ruined, and the society’s workers started the painful task of chucking out the damaged clothing.

A second hand clothes shop will soon be opening under the care of the society in Wicklow Town, and all concerned are keeping their fingers crossed that the wreckers will find something else to do with their time.