Vandals strike at community centre

Vandals strike at community centre

16 January 2013

VANDALS went on a wrecking spree after forcing their way into the St Michael’s Parish Centre in Downpatrick last weekend.

Internal wooden doors were smashed, two rooms ransacked and locks broken on a number of drawers in the building during the incident which is believed to have occurred during the early hours of Sunday morning.

The vandalism attack was discovered after police came across a laptop computer which had information relating to the Irish Street facility on it.

Officers contacted Canon Sean Rogan and a subsequent investigation discovered that part of the building, which is used by a variety of organisations, had been targeted.

Canon Rogan said it was obvious from the extent of the damage that whoever was responsible for targeting the Irish Street building “was clearly intent on getting in.”

He continued: “We do not keep money on the premises. Two rooms were ransacked during the incident and a number of documents were scattered across the floor.

“The two rooms were pretty well wrecked and we have had to make a number of temporary repairs as we wait for insurance assessors to inspect the building.”

Canon Rogan said while a number of windows have been smashed at the St. Michael’s Centre in the past, it has not previously been attacked by vandals in such a manner during his time in Downpatrick.

“I am saddened and disappointed by what’s happened. This building is one which is used by the entire community and the people who come here are from all walks of life and are most welcome.

“Indoor bowlers use our facility and the Irish language nursery school is also based at the Centre. It is sad that there are those who want to target this building in such a way. The damage they caused was quite considerable,” added Canon Rogan.

The weekend vandal attack has also been condemned by Downpatrick councillor Éamonn Mac Con Midhe. He said those responsible were guilty of “attacking the local community.”

He continued: “The St. Michael’s Centre is widely used by many different organisations and it took staff most of Sunday to get the premises back into some sort of shape.

“These are exactly the kind of incidents no one wants to see and I would appeal to anyone who knows anything about what happened to contact the relevant authorities.”

Councillor Mac Con Midhe said he is very concerned at the activity of those who are targeting other people’s property, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.

“In all cases like this, someone else has to pick up the bill and that is not fair. The St. Michael’s Centre is a place for everyone in the community and it’s shocking it has been targeted in such a callous manner,” he added.