Taxi smashed in overnight attack
The taxi which vandals set upon in Ballymagroarty in the early hours of Friday morning. (2002lm73)
A gang of young people on quad and motorbikes ran amok on the Ballymagroarty Estate in the early hours of Friday morning, attacking a number of homes and outhouses and smashing the windows of one Derry Taxi.
Emmett Clarke’s seven seater taxi-bus was set upon while parked outside his Corrib Court home. The self-employed taximan awoke to find the windows smashed and the cab’s interior covered in glass.
“They caused upwards of £300 damage, that’s just the cost of the replacement glass without adding how much it will cost to have it fitted. I would be well known on the Volkswagen scene and a few of my friends are helping me out with the repairs, for which I’m very thankful.”
The damage has forced Mr. Clarke off the road for at least a week. “I can’t even earn a living now. It was a sustained attack during which they used beer bottles and a torch to wreck my car.”
A small motorbike was also burnt out in an alley way between Joyce and Yeats Court on the same night. Another resident challenged the group as they attempted to enter his yard, they left a quad bike behind them when they fled the scene. Police have since recovered that vehicle and confirmed that four males were arrested and later released on bail pending further enquiries. Locals believe that the group were targeting homes/outhouses with the intention of stealing motorised vehicles. “It is just mental,” said Emmett Clarke, “I’ve lived here since 1981 without incident but now things are going from bad to worse. There is a lot of anger on the estate after this, these young people are running about without fear of any repurcussions. I spoke to a neighbour who said he contacted police but they didn’t attend the scene until the next morning.” Strand Road PSNI have appealed for anyone with information to contact 0845 600 8000 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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Weather for Derry
Sunday 27 May 2012
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Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: North east
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Temperature: 13 C to 24 C
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paddyc
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 09:54 PMIts not just now that these people have been running rabid around ballymac. They have been doing it for years, and most of Ballymac know who they are. People have been forced out of Ballymac because of this anti-social and wreckless behaviour, but nothing is ever done.
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