Vandals attack soccer grounds

Clare soccer has been left counting the cost of an act of “mindless vandalism” at the County Grounds in Doora.

League executive member, Jim Madden arrived at the grounds during the week to discover vandals had caused extensive damage, particularly to the disabled toilet.

A concrete block was used to break one of doors to gain entry. While the disabled toilet area was extensively damaged, presses and locks were also broken.

Mr Madden, who is the County Grounds supervisor, reckons that the repair bill will be in the order of €1,000.
“They robbed a shovel, a fork and a rake and it’s obvious that the real motive was to cause damage. It was mindless vandalism, nothing else,” Mr Madden claimed.
“It is very, very annoying. We invest in the provision of facilities and amenities and, for the want of something better to do, these people come along and cause such damage.

“It was pure, mindless vandalism. You couldn’t put it down to anything else,” he added.
Mr Madden said the incident was very infuriating and the Clare League, a voluntary body, would now be burdened with unnecessary expense.
“The facilities at the County Grounds are there for everybody and are widely used.

“We have never refused use of the pitch to anybody but such vandalism is symptomatic of Irish society today to a certain extent,” he claimed.
While emphasising that the repair work would be completed within the next week or so, Mr Madden said that as a consequence of the vandalism, the league would be installing security cameras at the grounds.