Vandals have gutted a €70,000 children’s skateboard park in Meath – just a day after it was reopened following an earlier arson attack.
The state-of-the art facility in Dunboyne was set on fire at the weekend. A local councillor is now offering a reward for information on the incident.
The area in Dunboyne Park was closed since last May after a small section of specialised flooring was ignited. The park was only reopened on Friday after Meath County Council spent €1,000 on importing replacement boarding from the Netherlands.
Children in the community are “devastated,” according to Noel Leonard. He was visited yesterday by a group of children offering their pocket money to get the amenity repaired.
“I have offered a reward to find the culprits responsible for this sickening attack on something that has given the children in the area so much pleasure,” Mr Leonard said.
Since it was constructed in 2005, it has been one of the most used facilities in Dunboyne and neighbouring villages.
“A group of young children knocked on my door with a bag of coins, saying it was to rebuild the park. I didn’t take it, of course, but I was so touched at their generosity and devastated to see the expression on their faces about the situation.
“These thugs have a lot to answer for.”