Teenagers destroy playgroup garden

Teenagers destroy playgroup garden

4 May 2016

A MAJOR clean-up operation was underway in Strangford yesterday after vandals wreaked havoc on the local playgroup.

A group of youths caused damage of over £1,000 to the outdoor garden of Playlinks Playgroup and After Schools Club on Friday afternoon, breaking park equipment, smashing glassware and beheading dolls.

There were dramatic scenes in the village when playgroup staff, who intercepted the perpetrators, gave chase to four boys who escaped on the ferry.

Following an urgent call to ferry operators, the vessel stopped half way across the lough to allow police to catch the youths on the other side. However, the gang made their getaway after police were unable to attend.

Gathered in the playgroup gardens to clear away broken equipment yesterday afternoon, staff and parents spoke of their disgust about the incident, which playgroup leader Wanda Smith described as “senseless.”

She said it was ironic that inspectors had just last Tuesday described the playgroup’s outdoor area as ”outstanding” following a visit where they assessed the garden, recently refurbished through grant aid.

“The attack was totally malicious. They decapitated dolls and burnt their bodies and cut through canvas seat in the children’s outdoor chairs,” she said.

“They broke all the monkey bars on a climbing frame, damaged the see-saw and smashed all delph and glass and even the window of the toy house. They set a fire on the roof.

“It seems they wanted to do the maximum possible damage and that has been really sickening for everybody associated with Playlinks.

“I am angry as we are a voluntary run playgroup and we have to fight tooth and nail to get grants for developing the facility.

“We received £5,000 to upgrade the whole outdoor area and we were delighted with what we achieved.”

Mrs Smith said she was disappointed police were unable to come to the village on Friday when the youths suspected on the criminal damage had been detained on the ferry and was disappointed the clean-up operation could not begin until police attended four days after the incident.

“We had so many parents available over the Bank Holiday weekend to help us clear the whole place up so the children did not see the mess, but we couldn’t begin that process until Tuesday after police came to assess the scene,” she said.

“That was disappointing as it meant our after school  children were back with us and had to be kept indoors.”

Playlinks After Schools’ Club leader Shauna Lehane, who came across the vandals when she returned to the premises with a group of children on Friday afternoon, said the incident had been very frightening for them.

“We were about the let the children out the back to play when I noticed everything was upside down,” she said.

“It was quite shocking to see the amount of damage. The kids were afraid and some of them wanted to leave. It was more shocking when we saw the youths still in the garden.”

She said her colleague gave chase to the young gang before they escaped onto the ferry.

Strangford Lough ferry manager, Tim Tew, confirmed the ferry had been held mid-journey following a report from a member of the public that suspected vandals were on board.

He said the ferry completed its journey after confirmation that police could not attend.

PSNI Chief Inspector Barney O’Connor confirmed the report had been received about an incident at the playgroup on Friday evening and said crews were dealing with a number of other incidents at the time.

“We were able to ascertain that the offenders had left the area,” he said.

“Crews on duty were dealing with a number of incidents and we prioritised our response on a risk basis. 

“After speaking to staff at the playgroup we were informed that the premises would be empty until Tuesday and made arrangements to attend this morning.”

Mr O’Connor said police were examining a link between another criminal damage incident on the vacant Strangford Presbyterian Church, which also happened over the weekend.