Northern Ireland

Warrenpoint park partially closed after vandalism

Damage was caused to a swing for children with disabilities, a tunnel and a bridge
Damage was caused to a swing for children with disabilities, a tunnel and a bridge Damage was caused to a swing for children with disabilities, a tunnel and a bridge

POLICE are treating damage to a children's play park as arson.

The park in Warrenpoint, Co Down had been refurbished last year as part of a £1 million Heritage Lottery Fund project to restore the town's Edwardian park.

The incident is understood to have taken place about midnight on Sunday.

Damage was caused to a swing for children with disabilities, a tunnel and a bridge.

Bill Reilly of Warrenpoint Heritage, which helped secure funding for the refurbishment, said he "absolutely disgusted".

Sinn Féin councillor Michael Ruane said the vandalism had disappointed and angered many.

"This is a great facility right in the heart of the community and the last thing we want to see is wanton acts of destruction like this taking place," he said.

"There appears to be a small anti-social element intent on causing disruption.

"There is no excuse for these attacks on community facilities which is ultimately an attack on the community who are now deprived of the use of the park."