Northern Ireland

Woman (44) charged with criminal damage to wreaths and crosses at Newry war memorial

Local people took it on themselves to retrieve wreaths thrown into the Clanrye River during a previous attack in July this year. Picture by Newraypics.com
Local people took it on themselves to retrieve wreaths thrown into the Clanrye River during a previous attack in July this year. Picture by Newraypics.com Local people took it on themselves to retrieve wreaths thrown into the Clanrye River during a previous attack in July this year. Picture by Newraypics.com
By Digital staff

A 44-year-old woman has been charged with criminal damage after wreaths and wooden crosses placed at a war memorial in Newry were found in the Clanrye river.

Police said they observed the wreaths missing from the memorial in the Sugar Island area of the city at around 11.20pm on Thursday.

"Police subsequently arrested a 44-year-old woman on suspicion of criminal damage," a spokesman said.

Police later said a 44-year-old woman had been charged and is due to appear at Newry Magistrate's Court on December 19. 

It is not the first time wreaths have been removed from the Newry cenotaph, with wreaths thrown into the muddy riverbed in July being retrieved by a human chain of people who noticed the vandalism.