Vandals go on rampage

Vandals go on rampage

16 October 2024

VANDALS who went on a graffiti and wrecking spree in Saintfield have left a trail of destruction and a costly repair bill in their wake.

Public and private property was sprayed with paint, while bus shelters at the Belfast and Downpatrick roads were smashed.

Those responsible have been roundly condemned with speculation locally that a teenage gang is behind the anti-social behaviour with the mayhem shocking local people and angering local politicians.

There have been a number of incidents in the town over recent weeks and months with some property owners reluctant to remove the graffiti as they fear their property will be targeted again.

One concerned resident who contacted the Recorder claimed a teenage gang is running about the town high on a heady cocktail of alcohol and drugs.

The resident said the shocking behaviour included threatening to kill someone and breaking into buildings while earlier in the year a child was almost hit by a beer bottle thrown in its direction.

“Elderly residents and those battling illness have had enough,” the resident declared.

“Police are aware of all the incidents and their investigations are continuing. In addition, the names of those believed to be responsible for the trouble have been handed to the PSNI and I would appeal to all the relevant authorities to step up to deal with these issues.”

The resident said the trouble has been going on for almost a year and people have simply had enough.

“These teenagers will pay for their actions,” he declared.

“Legal proceedings will commence in the very near future which will entail serious consequences for every one of those involved in anti-social behaviour within the local community.”

Strangford MLA Michelle McIlveen said she would echo an appeal by Translink for attacks on the bus shelters to stop.

She continued: “The vast majority of young people in Saintfield love the town. But, unfortunately, a couple of vandals are spoiling the look for everyone.

“Saintfield is going through a lot of change at the moment with the bank being sold and other abandoned buildings being done up for new businesses.”

Ms McIlveen said literally spraying graffiti from one end of the town to the other is “really discouraging” for traders coming to Saintfield to invest, particularly as Main Street has just been revamped with new footpaths and lighting and several prominent buildings being repainted.

Rowallane councillor Callum Bowsie described the most recent graffiti and vandalism as “shameful” and appealed for the trouble to stop.

He confirmed he has been in contact with the public and private owners of buildings which have been sprayed with graffiti and said it could take quite a while before it is removed. 

“As well as some of the graffiti being difficult to remove, owners can’t be sure this isn’t going to keep happening,” said Cllr Bowsie.

He revealed Translink is particularly reluctant to fix bus shelters in Saintfield at the moment, with the one at the Belfast Road sprayed with graffiti and vandalised for the second time in as many weeks and on several other occasions before this.

“The bus shelter light also needs to be repaired as a result of the most recent attack,”he said.

Cllr Bowsie added that a glass panel at the Downpatrick Road bus shelter which was recently replaced had been damaged once again, adding that the anti-social behaviour has to stop.