Cllr. Frankie Keena who is the Chairman of the Athlone Irish Wheelchair Association Branch said that he is just abhorred and furious by the mindless vandalism that was carried out last Sunday to the Sensory Garden attached to the IWA Centre in Clonbrusk.
This beautiful garden offers a tranquil place where people with additional needs can relax and enjoy the shrubs, flowers and various sensory equipment on offer. Unfortunately, this has now been temporary interfered with by these individuals.
The vandals and thugs who carried out this damage have absolutely no regard to the service users within the IWA Centre. These thugs feel it is an act of bravado to break windows and damage sensory equipment that are so important for the wellbeing of those people with additional needs, he said.
On a number of occasions in the past I have raised the ongoing issues with the Gardai about a number of youth gangs who are causing havoc to property and distress to people around the town and who have no fear of being caught, he fumed.
I have reported this recent vandalism to the Gardai to add to the previous reports and I do know that they are following up on a definite line of enquiry, he added.
My tolerance in relation to these vandals is nil and every effort needs to be made to get them off our streets. To be honest these individuals are under the age of 18 years so I do feel that their parents who receive children’s allowance from this State should also be held responsible in some way, if they are not able to control their children, said Cllr. Keena.
