‘Groundhog day’ in Wexford town park as vandals light fires and break benches

By Simon Bourke, Wexford People

Taxpayers in Wexford town are footing the bill for repair work in one of the local parks due to consistent acts of anti-social behaviour and vandalism.

Following reports of fires being lit and benches being broken in Redmond Park, Councillor Catherine Biddy Walsh said it was becoming like “groundhog day” for those tasked with cleaning up the mess.

“The reality is we have to spend taxpayer’s money on sorting this,” she said at the June meeting of the Wexford Borough. “Our funds are so small as it is, and to think we have to spend money because of this behaviour is disgraceful.

“It’s like groundhog day, it’s happening over and over again.”

Cllr Catherine Biddy Walsh. Pic: Jim Campbell

Admitting that “a disregard for public spaces” is an “ongoing problem”, District Manager Anthony Bailey said a security company monitored the park “pro bono” and provided details of any vandalism to the council.

“We’re recording everything they send us so we’ll have the data,” he said. “Very often people aren’t reporting the crime which is a big problem because we can’t record it then.”