Newcastle Alliance Councillor Patrick Clarke has condemned the recent vandalism and burning of four wheelie bins in Clanvaraghan outside Castlewellan in the early hours of Saturday morning. Councillor Clarke also described the damage to a 30mph speed limit sign and neighbourhood watch sign which was also ripped down as senseless.
Cllr Patrick Clarke stated: “I wish to strongly condemn the deliberate destruction and burning of resident’s wheelie bins in the early hours of Saturday 10th March in Clanvaraghan, which serves no purpose whatsoever.
“The culprits who carried out the destruction in the cover of darkness have only caused distress to senior citizen residents and burdened them with the financial cost of replacing their wheelie bins.
“Clanvaraghan is a quiet rural village and such vandalism is very unusual for the area. I hope this isolated incident which required the assistance of two fire appliances from Newcastle to deal with bins that had been set alight on the Wood Road and Clanvaraghan Road does not happen again.
“The damage also carried out to a 30mph sign and ripping down of neighbourhood watch sign by the vandals is just senseless.
“I would appeal to anyone who has information about this vandalism to contact the PSNI.”
Ends