Signs opposing Longford's Bord na Móna's Derryadd windfarm vandalised

Road signs opposing a proposed Bord na Móna wind farm in Derryadd have been vandalised with spray paint in a seemingly deliberate attempt to cover the message.

Multiple signs, which were erected along the N63, were originally created by a local community group as a show of public protest after Bord na Móna re-submitted their application for planning permission to construct a large wind farm in Derryadd which is set to include 22 wind turbines and 2 meteorological masts.

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Speaking to the Longford Leader this week, the PRO for the ‘No To Derryadd Wind Farm’ group, Niall Dennigan, voiced his disgust at the act of vandalism.

“It’s disappointing to see community signage vandalised. Everyone’s entitled to their opinion, but it should be expressed respectfully. It’s regrettable that someone felt the need to resort to this instead of attending one of our community meetings or speaking directly with a committee member. Vandalism does nothing to advance a positive resolution, because at the end of the day it only damages trust within the community.”

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Mr Dennigan said that while people over the years have questioned if the group's stance is simply just an objection against a wind farm, he added that “when they see what's taking place on these bogs to facilitate the proposed wind farm, the subsequent habitat losses, and the impact on red listed species of conservation, during a Government declared biodiversity crisis, they fully throw their support behind our efforts.“