Thieves ‘clean out’ club
€6,000 WORTH OF EQUIPMENT STOLEN IN KANTURK RAID
THE KANTURK Soccer Club has been left counting the costs after thieves broke into steel containers at their Gurteenard grounds and stole up to €6,000 worth of essential maintenance equipment.
One of the items stolen during the robbery last week was a ride on lawnmower valued at €4,000 and purchased using money donated through various fundraising events.
An emotional club secretary, Michael Wall, described the theft as “devastating”.
“It is almost impossible to put into words how upset and disgusted everyone involved with the club is over what has happened. The thieves cleaned us out,” said Mr Wall.
The financial burden now placed on the club because of this devastating theft is massive,” he added.
KANTURK SOCCER club has been left counting the cost after thieves stole up to €6,000 worth of essential maintenance equipment from their Gurteenard pitch.
The theft took place last Wednesday night/Thursday morning after the thieves broke the locks on reinforced steel storage containers on the grounds before making off with their contents.
The items stolen included a ride-on grass cutter valued at around €4,000, strimmers, shears and even shovels.
To pour salt in the wound, club officials were told their insurance policy does not cover the theft of equipment, meaning they will have to pick up the entire cost of the stolen equipment from their own meagre finances.
Speaking to The Corkman in a voice cracking with emotion, club secretary Michael Wall described the theft of the equipment as “devastating.”
“It is almost impossible to put into words how upset and disgusted everyone involved with the club is over what has happened. The thieves cleaned us out,” said Mr Wall.
He said that while club members have no idea who was behind the theft, it was clear the gang did have some local knowledge.
“They knew exactly what they were looking for and where to find these items. Indeed, they must have had some kind of trailer to take away the ride on mower, so they were well prepared,” said Mr Wall.
Established in the 1940s the club has a rich tradition of success, with a steady growth in its number of teams, particularly since the 1970s.
It currently boasts up to 150 members from under-12 to senior level, with a whole support team of volunteers drawn from within the local community.
Mr Wall said the priority for the club was to replace the ride on mower, as they are now relying on the goodwill of a local member of the public to cut the grass on their pitch.
“The committee will have to sit down and take stock of where we go from here in terms of finding the money to replace all of the stolen items,” said Mr Wall.
“As a voluntary club we rely completely on the generosity of the local community for our financial survival though fundraising events and receive no statutory funding whatsoever. The financial burden now placed on the club because of this devastating theft is massive,” he added.
A garda spokesman told The Corkman they had launched an investigation into the theft with included a forensic examination of the crime scene.