Uprooted trees used to smash windows at College

Police have confirmed that 14 windows have been smashed at St Cecilia’s Sports Pavillion on Fanad Drive, close to St Mary’s Church in Creggan.

Sinn Fein Councillor for the area Kevin Campbell said local people were disgusted at what has happened.

Reports suggest children as young as 12 and 13 were behind the wrecking spree, which police said occurred on Saturday evening shortly after 5pm.

The attack happened on the sports facilities erected for St Cecilia’s on the former St Mary’s College site in Creggan.

Colr. Campbell said he was alerted by a taxi man who had witnessed the vandalism.

“It is absolutely scandalous, and the community here is disgusted,” he said.

“School budgets are tight enough as it stands without having to pay the repair bill for this.

“We do not want to turn our school estates into fortresses with barbed wire and I am appealing to parents to make sure they know where there children are at and what they are doing.”

Colr. Campbell said that if the young people involved are identified, their families will be visited with regards to the incident.

He said that the vast majority of young people in Creggan were brilliant and would step up to the plate to help the community, adding that it was unfortunate an unruly element was given young people a bad name.

PSNI Inspector Johnny Hunter appealed to anyone who has information about this incident to contact Police at Strand Road on the non-emergency number 101.

Or if someone would prefer, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.