26 panes broken at primary school

26 panes broken at primary school

10 April 2013

VANDALS have caused thousands of pounds worth of damage to Killyleagh Primary School.

Up to 25 windows were smashed with bricks and slabs of tarmac sometime after 9.30pm on Thursday evening.

Jim Lindsay, from the Board of Governors, went to inspect the damage on the Shrigley Road site, which was closed at the time for the Easter holidays.

He said the cost of the damage had yet to be calculated but was on a large scale.

“We think it happened between 9pm and 10pm and we know someone phoned the police,” said Mr. Lindsay.

“It is disgraceful what has happened here. This is an attack on the school, but it is also an attack on the whole community.

“Money will have to be taken out of the school budget for this, which had been set aside for books and educational projects.”

Mr. Lindsay added that apart from an occasional window being damaged, nothing had ever happened before on this scale.

Local councillor Billy Walker said he “totally condemned” the vandalism, which he said would have a major impact on the school and its budget.

“Do these people not know the damage they have caused?” he said. “I would encourage anyone with any information whatsoever to go to the PSNI and see that these people are brought to the courts swiftly.”

A number of youths were seen in the area of the school earlier in the evening and police would like to speak to them to rule them out of the investigation.

Anyone who noticed any suspicious activity in the area or who has any information is asked to contact police at Downpatrick on 0845 600 8000. Information can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.