Gardai in Ballinrobe are investigating criminal damage caused to the local primary school’s football pitch overnight.

It’s understood that 4 males drove on to the pitch at St Joseph’s NS last night with three vehicles and began doing donuts on the surface, causing extensive damage to the surface.

Dympna Culhane the Principal of St Joseph’s told Midwest News this afternoon that the playing pitch had been redeveloped at the cost of 70,000 euro in recent years, and was only completed in 2019

She said it’s sad to think that the 450 strong students at the school will return after the present lockdown to see their games area destroyed.

The PRO of Ballinrobe GAA Club Gerry O’Malley told Midwest news that the Club unequivocally condemns the reckless and abhorrent vandalism of the school’s pitch last night by people who thought it was acceptable to drive and do doughnuts on what is a fantastic facility for the children of the school. “It shows a complete lack of respect for our local sporting facilities at a time when the children of the community have been very restricted in their ability to play outdoors and enjoy sport”.

 

 

Here's the state of our newly developed pitch after being vandalised by a group of local youths. Cars and jeeps on school property without a thought for anyone. Children won't be able to play on this when they return to school. We are all disgusted.@brobesch @ballinrobegaa pic.twitter.com/TAljW5NdyA

— St.Joseph's PS (@stjosephsbrobe) February 12, 2021