Reward offered over digger destruction

A REWARD is being offered in a bid to uncover information after vandals destroyed a mini-digger worth €30,000 that was being used to build a playground in Ennis.

Alaster Swift, a subcontractor working on the playground development, urged anybody with information to contact gardaí saying, “it’s disgusting what has gone on at the playground, it’s sickening”.
The digger was set alight at the playground development in the Fairgreen sometime between 12.35am and 1.05am of Thursday of last week and gardaí in Ennis are currently investigating.
Mr Swift said he felt physically sick when he first saw the damage that had been done.
“The digger had been hired out for the job and was worth €30,000 and I’m now liable for that. When I saw what had happened that morning I felt physically sick, I couldn’t work. It’s so hard in this day and age to try and make a living without somebody doing something like this. I have to now sell another machine to make up the cost.”
He went on, “What sort of kick do these people get from burning a digger? The digger is basically a write off, people these days have no respect for anything.”
He outlined that he is willing to give a reward of €2,000, dependent on the information given leading to a successful prosecution. “Compared with what the machine was worth, €2,000 isn’t a lot and it will be worth it if somebody comes forward and we get a successful prosecution.”
Anybody with any information is asked to contact  Ennis Garda Station on 065 6848100.