Kesh Main Street
MINDLESS VANDALS have caused £1,000 worth of damage to the Christmas tree in Kesh.
In days after Christmas it has been reported that a number of males have been climbing the tree on Main Street and posing for photographs, with the tree, new to the village only last year, now damaged beyond repair.
Neville Armstrong from the Kesh Development Association called it an act of “wanton damage”.
“People in the community are absolutely outraged by what has happened as we spent a lot of time and money this year putting new lights up and all the rest of it and to find the tree vandalised in that way represents a very bad light on the people that did this.
“They didn’t see the impact of a wee community group trying to find £1000 money through fundraising to buy a tree to light up the village. £1000 is a lot of work through coffee mornings and things like that.”
Mr Armstrong told the Herald there was CCTV footage of the males climbing and suggested the perpetrators were not teenagers, but rather men in their 20s in a case of where “the drink was in and the wit was out.”
The 30ft artificial tree with built in lights was specially made for the community and paid for through local fundraising. Mr Armstrong has said it has now been damaged beyond repair with the vandals having “warped the centre” of the tree and broken a number of strands on the front of it.
Kesh DUP councillor David Mahon called the incident “ridiculous”.
“It’s outrageous and discouraging for all of the people who helped to raise money. A lot of money was spent on that tree, I think last year was the first year it was out.
“It’s not easy to raise that sort of money. You’re going round asking people for donations and raising funds only for some inconsiderate people to wreck it all. Christmas has been cut short, the good will has been cut short.”
Police are currently investigating the matter.
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