Mitchelstown playground vandalism ‘bewildering’
Calls have been made for urgent action as a fire was set at the Mitchelstown community playground and glass was left discarded where children play.
The damage was caused in recent days, but thankfully not to such an extent that the fire damaged the playing equipment. The fire appeared to be set on a protective plastic netting/fence placed for the safety of children on new equipment.
Sean Finn, of Mitchelstown Community Council who manage the facility, said that committee members are devastated.
“This is a constant thing we are dealing with. Last week I found a bag of broken glass just left there. We have been working on this since 2007 and it is just constant. We are bewildered by it and something needs to be done.
“We had requested funding from the Council for specialist fencing which would cost €5,600, but they said it was not possible to provide the money. We have similar fencing on the allotments and it is a great deterrent,” Sean said.
Sean said he felt parents need to take control of their children, but he said that at some level, he feels sorry for those causing the trouble.
“I feel sorry for them in a way, because they have nothing to do, no place for them to go. The FCA barracks would be perfect. We made representation to Government but they refused to assist,” Sean added. COMMITMENT NEEDED
Councillor Frank O’Flynn spoke also of his disgust at the ongoing problems at the site.
“It is an absolute disgrace what happened with this latest damage at the playground - it is not the first time damage has been done to it.
“The wonderful effort of the community council needs to be backed up, they need to put in the proper security fence. There also needs to be a consideration for CCTV with a proper security system.
“We can ill-afford spending good money after bad fixing damage that should not happen in the first place. We need commitment to erect appropriate security there now,” added Cllr O’Flynn.