Vandals wreak havoc
Thursday, 13 November 2008
A spate of vandalism against council owned property in Moyle has prompted some councillors to question what police are doing to deter such criminal activity.
During the month of October, over £700 of damage was caused when vandals struck in Bushmills, Ballycastle, Cushendun and Cushendall.
SDLP councillor Madeline Black said Moyle District Policing Partnership should be made aware of the problem, and the police should be pressed for results to see an end to vandalism in the area.
Sinn Fein councillor, Padraig McShane, said: "This council should go as a united voice to the the DPP and ask how many prosecutions came about for acts of vandalism over the past number of years.
“Vandalism can cost as much as £1000 every month. It doesn't matter where it is happening, it is disappointing. I would ask the DPP to put pressure on the police.
“If this continues people will think they can get away with it. To my mind nothing is coming back to let us know what is being done."
The cost of the damage was revealed in the monthly report of Moyle District Council's Technical Services Department.
The latest incident of vandalism took place last Saturday, (November 8) when rain guttering was damaged at Sheskburn House in Ballycastle.
A police spokesman said they are checking CCTV to see if the culprits can be identified.
On Friday, October 10, vandals targeted the public toilets in Bushmills, damaging three set of push down taps, a soap dispenser and a toilet flush mechanism. This will cost approximately £240 to repair.
On Tuesday, October 14, seven street lights at the seafront in Ballycastle were smashed. It is not known how much the damage will cost to repair.
Two panes of glass at Sheskburn House were smashed on Tuesday, October 21, at a cost of £250.
On the same day in Cushendun, a door was damaged and guttering broken at the public toilets in the village. This will cost £100 to repair.
The Cushendall caravan park was also targeted, with £150 of damage caused to a fire extinguisher and door frame.
At a meeting of Moyle District Council on Monday, November 10, there was widespread anger among council members at the cost and level of vandalism throughout the area.
SDLP councillor Madeline Black said: The streetlights were part of a scheme at the seafront. We thought they were vandal proof as they are so high. I'm disgusted at the length people will go to."
DUP councillor Robert McIlroy said he was disgusted at the damage caused to the public toilets in Bushmills. He suggested that a sign should be erected to show people where they are.
“If there was more people using them there might be less damage," he argued.
Sinn Fein councillor, Cathal Newcombe, said the money needed to repair acts of vandalism could have been used to decorate Christmas trees.
“It is not just public property. It also happens to private property. Looking at this you would think its only public property. It's the bad shape of policing at the minute. They are promising all sorts of things," he said.
SDLP councillor Catherine McCambridge said: "In relation to the damage to council property, it happens behind closed doors at a time police can't respond to. It is not discovered until the following day. It is spoiled by people who can't respect property and it is done by people against other people's property."
According to the latest figures available from Moyle DPP, extracted in June this year, criminal damage in the area has declined.
Between April and June 2007, there was 82 recorded incidents, but for the same period in 2008, the figure fell by 23.2 per cent to 63.
