Northern Ireland

Vandals cover Portstewart lifeguard beach unit with graffiti

Police view the vandalism at the lifeguard hut and other areas on Portstewart Strand in Co Derry. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin
Police view the vandalism at the lifeguard hut and other areas on Portstewart Strand in Co Derry. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin Police view the vandalism at the lifeguard hut and other areas on Portstewart Strand in Co Derry. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin

THE Royal National Lifeboat Institute has condemned vandals who daubed graffiti over a beach lifeguard hut at Portstewart.

Graffiti was also sprayed on nearby council and National Trust signs in an overnight attack on Sunday.

Lifeboat staff have estimated that repairs could cost up to £500 after its small building was completely covered with graffiti in orange paint.

RNLI spokesman Karl O’Neill said the damage was the worst he had ever seen to lifeboat property.

“This shows a complete disregard for the life saving work that we do and also for the fact that the RNLI is a charity which relies on the generosity of the public to fund our equipment,” he said.

Damage caused to the Lifeguard hut and other areas on Portstewart Strand in Co-Derry after it was attacked by vandals over the weekend. Picture Margaret McLaughlin 6-11-17.
Damage caused to the Lifeguard hut and other areas on Portstewart Strand in Co-Derry after it was attacked by vandals over the weekend. Picture Margaret McLaughlin 6-11-17. Damage caused to the Lifeguard hut and other areas on Portstewart Strand in Co-Derry after it was attacked by vandals over the weekend. Picture Margaret McLaughlin 6-11-17.
Police view the damage caused to the Lifeguard hut and other areas on Portstewart Strand in Co-Derry after it was attacked by vandals over the weekend. Picture Margaret McLaughlin 6-11-17.
Police view the damage caused to the Lifeguard hut and other areas on Portstewart Strand in Co-Derry after it was attacked by vandals over the weekend. Picture Margaret McLaughlin 6-11-17. Police view the damage caused to the Lifeguard hut and other areas on Portstewart Strand in Co-Derry after it was attacked by vandals over the weekend. Picture Margaret McLaughlin 6-11-17.