Derry youth worker shocked by vandalism attack

A young Derry youth  worker has spoken out after his car was vandalised by a gang in an early morning attack.
By Brendan McDaid
Published 8th Sep 2020, 10:48 BST
Scott Rice examines the smashed wing mirror and paint sprayed on his car in O’Casey Court, Ballymagroarty, in the early hours of Friday morning. DER2036GS – 009Scott Rice examines the smashed wing mirror and paint sprayed on his car in O’Casey Court, Ballymagroarty, in the early hours of Friday morning. DER2036GS – 009
Scott Rice examines the smashed wing mirror and paint sprayed on his car in O’Casey Court, Ballymagroarty, in the early hours of Friday morning. DER2036GS – 009

Scott Rice, who works with On Street Community Youth in the Ballymagroarty area, said he was shocked to discover the damage to his car outside his family home at O’Casey Court.

The 20-year-old, who also has a second job in retail in the city centre, said he was gutted to be left without a vehicle to get to and from his jobs and to be with his partner and 10-month-old baby son with whom he stays part of the week in Eglinton.

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Speaking to the Journal Scott said that at around 1am on Friday morning he heard loud noises out in the street and went to the window to investigate. “When I heard the smashing I thought it was outside one of my neighbours’ and I looked out the window and saw young boys running away. I went out and saw my back window was smashed. There was spray paint on the side, the car was keyed the whole way round, and the wing mirror was beaten off as well.

A smashed rear windscreen was among the damage caused to Scott Rice’s car in O’Casey Court, Ballymagroarty, in the early hours of Friday morning. DER2036GS – 011A smashed rear windscreen was among the damage caused to Scott Rice’s car in O’Casey Court, Ballymagroarty, in the early hours of Friday morning. DER2036GS – 011
A smashed rear windscreen was among the damage caused to Scott Rice’s car in O’Casey Court, Ballymagroarty, in the early hours of Friday morning. DER2036GS – 011

“When I saw what was done I was angry. There was a ‘baby on board’ sign in the back window, a car seat in the car and wee baby shoes hanging over the rear view mirror. It didn’t seem to bother them.

“I’m waiting on someone to repair the window but the other damage is going to take a lot of work.”

Scott said the five to six strong gang responsible for damaging his Volkswagen Golf appeared to be in their late teens or early 20s.

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The young Derry man said he had no idea why his vehicle was targeted as he has never been subjected to any other such incidents and has a good relationship with young people in the area. Indeed, over the lockdown and summer, Scott along with other On Street Community Youth youth workers and volunteers have been patrolling the streets to make sure young people are safe and not coming to any harm. “I have always done youth work and volunteered and am working there now two and half years. I don’t know why they did this. There were 20 odd cars in the street and mine was in the middle of all of them so it was obviously targeted for something but I don’t know why. All I do is work during the day and at the youth club at night and come back to my family.”  

Scott Rice examines the glass showered rear seats and baby seat in his car in O’Casey Court, Ballymagroarty, which was damaged by youths in the early hours of Friday morning. DER2036GS – 012Scott Rice examines the glass showered rear seats and baby seat in his car in O’Casey Court, Ballymagroarty, which was damaged by youths in the early hours of Friday morning. DER2036GS – 012
Scott Rice examines the glass showered rear seats and baby seat in his car in O’Casey Court, Ballymagroarty, which was damaged by youths in the early hours of Friday morning. DER2036GS – 012

He said police removed a ‘bong’ device which may have been among the items used to smash in the window, but said he was told a handprint found on the vehicle would not be any use in trying to identify the culprits.

Police in Derry confirmed they received a report of criminal damage in the early hours of Friday. A spokesperson said: “The report was received at around 1.10am that a parked Volkswagen Golf had been attacked by a number of people who smashed windows, dented bodywork and sprayed graffiti on it. Anyone with any information about this incident or who may be able to help with our investigation, is asked to call us at Strand Road on the non-emergency number 101 quoting reference number 57 04/09/20, or submit a report online using our non-emergency reporting form via www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/.”

“You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/”