Anger after another attack on Derry city GAA club

A Derry councillor has described the consistent vandalism of Seán Dolan’s gaelic grounds in Creggan as ‘despicable’.

The latest in a series of attacks this week saw sections of the fence surrounding the pitch at torn down.

Mark McCleary, Seán Dolans manager and committee member, said: “The fence has been knocked down, sections of the fence have been taken out of the ground.

“They seem to have been put down with the intention of coming back to take them later.

“The fence is on high ground, too high for it to have been knocked down by a car.

“Two full sections of the fence are down and posts taken out of the ground. I have no idea why someone would want to do it.”

Mr McCleary said it would have taken a ‘serious amount of power’ to remove the posts from the ground as they were made from steel, bolted and embedded in the ground.

This is not the first time the club has been attacked.

The most serious incident took place in 2011 when the clubhouse was destroyed in an arson attack.

Local Sinn Fein Kevin Campbell called on those behind the attacks to stop.

He said: ““This is a brilliant asset for the Creggan and I would describe this as a setback. It’s absolutely despicable and those responsible need to desist immediately.

“Something has to be done about the constant attacks on the club. It’s not the first time, it was burned previously and there has been non-stop vandalism.

“One time there was broken glass all over the pitch and the dugouts had to be removed because they were being used as drinking dens for youths at night.

“It is there to serve the community and Seán Dolan’s are a club that has given a lot back to the local community,” added Councillor Campbell.