THE shocking nature of vandalism across the Down District has been demonstrated in Ardglass.
This was when a vandal stole an ornamental street lamp overlooking the harbour which had only been put up a few days before.
The SDLP’s Dermot Curran had been instrumental in getting the Council to carry out the move at Lukes Port.
That was after the original cast-iron lamp at the site had also fallen foul of vandalism.
The lamp had been a feature in the village for many years guiding boats in and out of the harbour.
The new aluminium lamp was erected on Friday February 15 to be torn down on Sunday.
Mr. Curran said it showed just how low vandals could go.
“I had been working for several years to get this lamp put up which had a great deal of history attached to it for the people of Ardglass.
“I had worked with the Council in getting the whole area cleaned up.
“The Council was to clean up the old bathing hut near the spot and install a picnic area with table and chairs for locals or visitors to sit at in the Summer.
“The lamp was to be the icing on the cake but for some mindless thug to come along and steal it just hours after it was put up shows nothing but contempt and disrespect for Ardglass and its people.”
Mr. Curran said the type of vandalism shown was not as bad as other examples in the village but its nature was just as shocking.
“Everyone must join together to stop this crime in Ardglass and across the Down District which has got out of control,” he said.
“We need a more visible Police presence but we also need the community to play a more active role in reducing it.
“The concept of a neighbourhood watch scheme may have to be addressed.”
The incident follows growing vandalism and anti-social behaviour in Ardglass and Downpatrick.
At the monthly Council meeting last Monday, a number of Councillors backed moves to have security cameras installed in Downpatrick to police key areas of the town to reduce such crime.
But they warned the initiative would only get off the ground if the business community and other interested groups joined the Council in a partnership arrangement to secure funding for the project.
Dermot Curran said Downpatrick Development Partnership, a group made up of traders in the town, was backing the scheme.
“Everyone wants to see Downpatrick continue to develop but how can this happen if the current crime levels and anti-social behaviour are allowed to continue?
“It is absolutely essential we remove the element of fear from our town.”