Several sets of northside teen vandals have caused as much as €35,000 in damage in just one year to one Dublin playground.
Coultry Park in Ballymun, which has brought so much joy to kids in the tough months they've had to endure during differing lockdowns, has been targeted again and again by firestarting youngsters since January.
The gangs have damaged the expensive equipment on numerous occasions as well as setting the swings and slides alight in acts that have been described as "disgraceful vandalism".
Independent Ballymun/Finglas Councillor Noeleen Reilly said that the constant damage has cost in excess of between "€30,000-€35,000".
She said: "That's how much damage has been done to the playground in Coultry Park after only a year.
"This is why it is impossible for me to get equipment in the smaller parks.
"Everything always gets burned. Its really not fair on the families who use this park."
One local blasted the news saying that it was "absolutely disgraceful".
They said: "It was a lovely park, we can't have anything. Something has to be done about the groups, it's getting worse and they just ruin it for the small kids that need it especially during this time.
Another local said they were "sick of seeing it being set on fire like clockwork each week".
They said: "I open my windows to air the house and nothing but smoke smelling all over my house. Every couple of days they are setting stuff on fire in the park and I've a baby that can't even go across the road from her house to her local park to play. It needs to stop."
A third said it's "unbelievable" that the gangs have been able to get away with it for so long.
They added: "It's senseless vandalism. The parents of these hooligans don't care what their kids get up to as long as they're not caught. It's disgraceful behaviour."
