Vandals cut off GAA goalposts

Published Thursday, 14 June 2012
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Vandals who sawed off part of the goalposts at a Co Down pitch being used by around 100 children have been labelled a "disappointment to their own community".

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Ballymartin GAC has been granted permission to use the pitches at a council-run facility in Kilkeel while the club's playing fields are upgraded.

But attackers targeted the pitches for a fourth time when they cut down the tall metal uprights sometime between Monday evening and Tuesday morning.

The word 'British' was also sprayed onto remaining part of the posts at the Carginagh Road pitch, which opened earlier this month.

John McArdle, Mayor of Newry and Mourne, said he was "astonished and disappointed" at the attack.

"There's an awful lot of work going on here between the two communities over the last 10 or 20 years. I would not want to see this escalating.

"This is probably the work of one or two individuals. They are not reflecting their community," the Mayor added.

A union flag was also placed on the posts and, in an earlier attack, sectarian graffiti was daubed on the clubhouse itself.

A spokesperson for the club said they were "disappointed with the recent intimidating action of others" and appealed to the wider community to get behind young people wanting to enjoy sport in "a neutral environment".

However, Independent councillor Henry Reilly described the attack as "predictable", as the use of the shared grounds had created ill feeling in the area.

"I did highlight this issue to my colleagues when they made this proposal, that people who have used this pitch for a long period of time felt that they had been neglected.

"There will be a section of the young Unionist Protestant community in this area who very much sees Newry and Mourne as a Catholic and GAA orientated council, and see themselves as being discriminated against and this is a direction reaction to that."

Police are appealing for information following "extensive criminal damage" at playing fields at the Carrigenagh Road.

© UTV News
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37 Comments
Peter in Belfast wrote (338 days ago):
I am from here and live here but sometimes, like over this article, this place called Northern Ireland really shames and sickens me. It can be very, very embarrassing living here sometimes.
Ulysses32 in Belfast wrote (338 days ago):
Yeah, Robert, perhaps you didn't know but the PSNI played the Gardaí in Croke Park last November. The score? Gardaí 4-17 PSNI 1-6. But, hey, good of you to condemn this particular act of vandalism...Lynn, anything can be regarded as sectarian. It's all down to the act and intention, just like your comment.
Ady in Cookstown wrote (339 days ago):
@ Lynn ...Catch your-self on ! Your first comment was ridiculous enough but then you have the audacity to try to rationalise it ! Oh ! and by the way "Ed in Belfast" whilst you are offering history lessons may I suggest you take a few Enlish language lessons in return.
liam in belfast wrote (339 days ago):
i felt scundered for protestants after reading this. This is pathetic.
Audrey in Co down wrote (339 days ago):
Having watched the item on the news about the Pitches at Carginagh Road it got more air-time than the 12th Demonstrations in Kilkeel. What is the big deal. Kilkeel is a loyalist community and the word "BRITISH" is by no means sectarian. That is implying all the people on the main-land including our "QUEEN" is classed as secratian. Get a grip and to the repulician in Ballynure You don't refuse to carry the Queens Head in in your pocket every day
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