Thieves target Derry's new boxing club

Sinn Féin Councillor and Chair of St Joseph’s Boxing club, Sandra Duffy, has condemned those who stole from the building site next to St Paul’s Primary School.

She said: “The building work has been ongoing now since last September with work due to be completed by the end of March, but in recent days thieves have targeted the site. The thieves accessed the site with a ladder and then went about stealing building materials.

“Builders on site feel that these thieves did not act randomly. They seemed to know what they were looking for.”

Colr. Duffy said the new gym is due to be completed shortly and will be a brilliant facility that the entire community will be able to use.

“Culture Minister Carál Ní Chuilín instigated this project and it will be of great benefit to the people who live here,” she said, adding:

“I am delighted to see something good happening in this area. It will be a state of the art facility once it’s complete. We can’t let a criminal element undermine all that.

“I would appeal to the local community to report any suspicious activity around the site as any delay may have financial implications for this much needed and valued community facility.”

St. Joseph’s Amateur Boxing Club was founded in 1993 by local men, Paddy Duddy, Pat McLaughlin and ‘Soup’ Campbell. Since that time the club has produced several regional, national and international level athletes and notched up a string of trophies.

Minister Ní Chuilín committed funding towards the new purpose-built sports centre to replace the old building, which had previously housed classes as part of Slievemore (St Paul’s) Primary School before becoming St Joseph’s Boxing Club.