Vandalism in The Valley

Very disheartening to see the damage caused to the seating down by the river this evening (Monday), writes a Diary reader. The benches are pulled out of the ground and one of them was thrown down the bank!

What kind of humans would be so disrespectful and particularly cruel towards the person the bench was erected for. 

Very saddening to see!

Editor Note: This month marks 50 years since the Valley land was bought by the community. A special article in the upcoming issue of The Bridge magazine recounts the vision, commitment and perseverance of many local people in getting the park to what it is today. Sad indeed to see any such treatment of the facility.

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Vandalism of lifebuoy

A lifebuoy in The Valley has again been interfered with in the last couple of days. This is the kind of activity that could cost someone their life.

A Life Saving Equipment Bill 2017 currently before Seanad Eireann would provide for a custodial sentence of up to five years, and a financial penalty of up to €50,000, for interfering with life saving equipment such as defibrillators and lifebuoys. Senator Mark Wall, noting the Bill in the Seanad last November, said 'a strong message needs to go out' to anyone who is thinking of the theft of life-saving equipment. 

"It is simply not good enough," he said. "It can destroy lives and potentially cost people their lives. I welcome the fact that it has been brought forward. I look forward to supporting it in the future."

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CCTV 'vital' weapon against vandals

Graffiti at GAA dugout and vandalism on Fairy Trail.

Footage from CCTV has been ‘vital’ in helping Kilcullen gardai detect those perpetrating acts of vandalism, writes Brian Byrne.

That was said at the monthly meeting of Kilcullen Community Action, where recent vandalism problems at Kilcullen GAA and in the Valley Park were discussed with Sergeant Tom O’Donoghue.

He told those present that CCTV had already resulted in some people being questioned about graffiti on recently refurbished dugouts at the GAA grounds. “We’re happy that those particular people were not involved, but we’re confident that we will find out who was,” he said.

In response to concern raised by Eoin Houlihan as to what can be done when vandals are juveniles, Sergeant O’Donoghue recalled successful detections in the vandalism instances around the damage to the Easter Bunny and separately to the flower boxes on the bridge earlier this year, which resulted in apologies and donations to KCA funds.

Noel Clare commented on the ‘huge amount’ of graffiti which was happening lately in the Valley, using pen or marker that was very difficult to remove. He asked that Garda patrols should include the Valley as much as possible.

Sergeant O’Donoghue agreed that this kind of vandalism was ‘so frustrating’. “It’s being done late at night, and very hard to catch them,” he noted.

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Graffiti vandals deface biodiversity signs

Biodiversity information signs provided by KCA.

Biodiversity information signs that were provided through Kilcullen Community Action with public funds have been defaced by the same person or persons who scrawled on the newly-painted dugouts at Kilcullen GAA on Friday night, writes Brian Byrne.

The 'signature' is the same — someone with a a fixation on the cartoon Simpsons. We're not showing the damage because that's just giving the vandals publicity for their actions.

The gardai are being asked to follow up on the vandalism — the perpetrator is expected to be readily identifiable because it is unlikely they have been practicing their Homer and Bart in secret, and friends and family will recognise their doodling.

The pens used also appear to be specialty instruments which are possibly traceable.

Graffiti vandals can be prosecuted under Section II of the Criminal Damage Act, 1991, and the Litter Pollution Act, 1997. Possible sanctions include a custodial sentence of up to 10 years or a €10,000 fine.

Parents are particularly asked to be aware of what their children are doing when not at home. "It all goes back to parents knowing where their children are at unusual hours of the late evening or night around the town," a spokesperson for the GAA says, "and the community as a whole being extra vigilant and reporting any issues to the Guards."

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Ice Age Fairy house, and GAA vandalised

In the latest episodes of vandalism in Kilcullen, someone went to the trouble last night of pulling down one of the fairy houses from the top of the Ice Age conglomerate rock in The Valley, writes Brian Byrne.

The Ice Age Fairy Palace was installed in summer 2019 as part of the Valley Fairy Trail provided by Ger Doyle and Kilcullen Community Action.

Not content with taking it down, the perpetrators sprayed it with paint.

There has also been scribbling on the picnic seats and on other fairy houses recently.

Also, the hard work on Thursday by volunteers from the Ladies Section of Kilcullen GAA in repainting the dugouts (above) was brought to nought by graffiti vandals (below), as found yesterday morning.

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Last bridge boxes vandalised

The remaining couple of bridge flower boxes, which had been reduced to that after a winter of vandalism, became targets last night.

Pictures courtesy of a reader. Sad sight. Sad reflection of a minority who can't appreciate the hard work of others on behalf of us all.

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Tractor vandalised in Kilcullen

Another example of the mindless vandalism being inflicted on the property of others by persons within our community.

In this incident, the destruction of the windscreen and windows of a tractor. 

"One wonders at the psyche of the perpetrators, and the reasons for their deplorable behaviour," the tractor's owner told the Diary.

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Maggie and Fred attacked by Kilcullen vandals

Bad behaviour in Kilcullen has hit a new low with the overnight vandalisation of the Easter Bunnies installation, writes Brian Byrne.

The figures of 'Maggie and Fred' were badly damaged at some time during the night.

The installation by artist Pat Munnelly was only put in place last week, funded by Kilcullen Community Action.

"Shocking behaviour after all the hard work Pat put into his work and KCA funding it for the businesses, community and the town," says KCA's Antoinette Buckley this morning. "As a group we are tired of seeing such bad behaviour, vandalism in our beautiful town. Shame on whoever decided to vandalise the Easter displays ... pure low life people in our community."

If anyone has information that could lead to identifying the culprits they should contact Kilcullen Gardai.

There has been a spate of damaging of flower installations over the last number of months, including the destruction of flower boxes on the bridge.

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Rubbish mind

Under the bridge this morning. Someone is doing a lot of sniggering at the rest of us. (Pic: Frank Mitchell.)

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More badness about, last night

This is just another finger in the eye of the community from someone intent on criminal mischief last night, writes Brian Byrne.

Following on from the vandalism of two other bridge flower displays on Sunday night, this time it took a great deal more effort. But the depredation is correspondingly worse.

It took strength to break the yellow box on the Camphill side of the bridge from its bolted-in mountings and then toss it into the river below.

"It's shocking to think that after all the work to make Kilcullen look well, to see the  damage to the displays on the bridge is really sad," says KCA's Antoinette Buckley, who with Anne Cashman personally created the Halloween displays in the boxes this year. "Obviously the later opening hours in the pubs is not helping."

It's badness, plain and simple.

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Badness in The Valley

A bit of badness in The Valley, unfortunately.

Somebody decided do a break-in number on the Gilly Fairy House.

Sad. The act. And the perpetrator.

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Olympic yarn pieces vandalised

It was perhaps too much to hope that the Olympics yarn display in the bridge area would get away unscathed for the three weeks of the contest.

Some pieces didn't quite make it undisturbed. These were thrown in the river at some stage last night, and found on the bank by Gareth Landy this morning, who replaced them where they had originally been.

"I think somebody else must have taken them from the river before they floated away," he told the Diary, describing the activity as 'mindless'.

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Vandals 'thwart' Cnoc na Greine biodiversity work

A wildflower meadow in Cnoc na Greine.

Vandalism of Cnoc na Greine biodiversity efforts has prompted a letter to all residents from the estate's Biodiversity Group, expressing dismay at the incidents, writes Brian Byrne.

Scots Pine saplings and Viburnum shrubs have been targeted in what the Group describe as either 'mindless vandalism' or 'criminal damage'.

This is against the background of planting of 68 native tree saplings and many shrubs which are crucial as early sources of food for pollinating insects by the Group with the approval of the Residents Association.

The seeding of a native wildflower meadow and leaving areas to naturally re-wild are also elements of the Cnoc na Greine efforts for the Kilcullen Biodiversity Plan, which is informed by the National Biodiversity Plan. "Our work has been thwarted by this needless destruction," the letter to residents states, signed by Mark Reid, Ilona Brede, Ann Cashman and Cliona Kelliher.

Noting that the Group's work is aimed at helping to mitigate the Government-declared National Climate and Biodiversity Emergency, the letter also reminds residents that it will hopefully also lead to a more beautiful and naturally diverse environment for those living in the estate. "These efforts are not for ourselves, but for our children and future generations who will inhabit this estate," they say.

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Gardai to patrol business campus to stop 'mindless damage'

Gardai are to send patrols through the Kilcullen Business Campus to stamp out a spate of vandalism there over recent weeks, writes Brian Byrne.

The incidents were described as 'mindless damage' by Sgt Tom O'Donoghue this evening, but he said a significant amount of damage had been caused around a number of the commercial premises on the campus.

"We're going to increase patrols in the area, and anyone caught on the campus with no business there will be subject to possible prosecution," he told the Diary.

The Gardai are asking anyone who sees untoward activity in or near the campus, especially groupings of people, to contact them at the Kilcullen station numbers 045 481212 or 086 8582822.

They have also asked that parents in the town ensure they know where their children are, especially in the evenings.

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Dirty deed on the bridge

Pic: KCA.

So, someone had little else to do last night? I'd love to get inside their little minds.

Or maybe not ... must be a dark space.

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