Councillors condemn school vandalism
Riverside School principal Mr Colin Ward surveys some of the damage caused to the school and school busses by vandals. INAT 37-302JC
AN Antrim councillor has described the vandals responsible for £5,000 worth of damage to buses belonging to a local special school as scumbags.
Councillor Adrian Watson said there could be no justifcation for the damage caused to two buses belonging to Riverside Special School in Antrim.
Sometime before 7am on Friday morning, damage was caused to the two vehicles, as well as damage to a classroom window.
Cllr. Watson said he was ashamed that somebody from Antrim could have been responsible for the attack on the school.
“I’m ashamed that firstly, this has happened in Antrim, and secondly that someone from this community is responsible,” Cllr. Watson said.
He added: “This attack is completely reprehensible and there is no justification for attacking a special school.
“Those responsible are scumbags in my opinion and I hope they are soon caught and dealt with in the strongest possible terms by the courts.”
Cllr. Watson’s comments were shared by his party colleague Paul Michael, who said he could not understand the mentality of why someone would target the school.
“They clearly went out to cause damage, why? What is their reasoning?” Cllr. Michael said.
And, he went further than Cllr. Watson’s calls for the harshest penalties for those responsible, by calling for them to be publicly shamed.
“I make no apologies in saying that I think they should be publicly named and shamed,” Cllr. Michael said.
He added: “In a very short period of time we’ve had an attack on school buses at Antrim Board Centre, then an attack on the Fire Service, and now this.
“These are attacks on the community and I think the community deserves to know who is responsible and that is why I feel they should be named and shamed.
“There are some cases which come before the courts in which those responsible can’t be named because they are youths.
“I feel that age should not be a barrier in identifying someone who has committed such an appalling crime.”
Anyone who noticed any suspicious activity in the area or who has any information is asked to contact police at Antrim on 0845 600 8000. Information can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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Sunday 26 May 2013
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