Vandalism at local GAA club causing 'untold damage'

Edenderry GAA Club has installed a number of CCTV cameras following the vandalism of its facilities in recent weeks.

The club is concerned about the damage as it is resulting in the slowing down of their plans for future developments.

Chairperson for the GAA club, Willie Forde said that “certain groups of individuals were going down and doing untold damage.” The dressing rooms were broken into and ripped flags and broke pucks for hanging clothes. They also broke the tops off the underage goal posts and ripped nets along with pulling out flower beds.

Willie continued: It's just ongoing, they're a pure nuisance. We had to put funds in to have CCTV installed. We're going to have to lock the place up (if this continues.) It's creating an absolute nuisance for us. We don't want to ruin it for everyone else and close it off.”

The chairperson also highlighted that the growing anti-social behaviour and vandalism of the club's facilities has created a problem for local players. “When teams are going down to train, they are on the pitch and won't move off. ”

Mr Forde added that they had to pay €2,000 to fix the goals and have spent around €10,000 to install between twelve to 14 CCTV cameras. They're looking at a bill of €20,000 to cover the full costs of the damage incurred to the club's facilities.

“It's turning people off on getting involved with the club. It's not our members that are doing it. We're taking a serious attitude towards this,” Mr Forde said that he wasn't going to stop until the issue is resolved.