Vandals and arsonists cause major damage to popular Derry park in 'attack on own community'

Ballymagowan Urban Park in Creggan was targeted on two consecutive nights this week.

Creggan Sinn Féin Councillor Tina Burke said: “In recent nights young people have been gathering in the park and lighting fires and causing damage to seating in the area.

"This is an attack on their own community and needs to end. This urban park was designed for the use of everyone in the local vicinity and is a widely used facility for local children to play in during the summer months. It is used on a daily basis by walkers and local families and the last thing that is needed is this carry on.”

She said one of the summer seats was burned Tuesday and seating and wood from the nearby allotment project was stolen and burned along with tyres causing a major fire in the park on Wednesday.

“This needs to stop, and those responsible who live locally, need to find something positive to do with their spare time. Part of this land has been earmarked for the Inner City Sanctuary Project which is designed for children with special needs and Radius Housing is in the process of building over 120 new homes on land adjacent to it. This is all positive news for the local area and yet we have this negativity.

“As a local representative, and as a local resident, I’m appealing to parents to talk to their children and make sure that their children are not caught up in this sort of activity."