North Longford volunteers angered as vandals wreak havoc at Leebeen Park

An act of vandalism in a North Longford beauty spot has been described as the work of “thugs” by local community volunteers.

A late night rampage by two vehicles in the car park of Leebeen Park resulted in damage to the gate and the “destruction” of the surface of the main car park.

Paul Kennedy of Leebeen Park Development CLG said the community was shocked by the incident: “Our lovely park facility in Leebeen Aughnacliffe, which is used by families from all over, was the subject of vandalism at around 11:00pm on Friday, December 13.”

Leebeen Park is located in the heart of Aughnacliffe village and was set up in 2003. It offers a variety of activities and is open to everyone.

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There's a playground and fairy garden to keep the little ones happy, along with a green gym, outdoor exercise equipment and picnic benches.

Friday night's act of vandalism was very distressing for all the volunteers who work on maintaining the facility: “A number of thugs decided to carry out destruction on the surface of the main car park with their cars and proceeded to damage the main car park gate beyond repair.

“Anybody with information regarding this act of thuggery please contact Granard Garda Station,” Paul said.

The park features a short looped walk of 1.5 kilometres that runs alongside the playground with a boardwalk along and over the lake.

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The lake is home to beautiful wildlife including swans and ducks.

Witnesses in the area at the time gave a description of the vehicles involved to Gardaí: “It appears that these two cars did 'doughnuts' around the parking area of the Leebeen Park. We are only after resurfacing it with gravel.

“We have a wooden gate, which has only recently been restored and painted, and on the way out they hit the gate and damaged it.”

The damaged gate may assist in the investigation: “The Gardaí are going to ask around in garages, because whoever hit the gate definitely damaged their car,” Paul told the Leader, “Everyone in the parish is shocked. We get visitors down from Cavan and Leitrim, because it is such a lovely park.”

The Leebeen Park Development volunteer says this is the first significant act of vandalism in the 20 year history of the facility: “We have been very lucky in Leebeen Park, we have had nothing of this nature in the past.

“This is our main car park, the resurfacing was done in the last three weeks. We are currently trying to level it as it has been all torn up with tyre marks.”

The Garda Press office confirmed local Gardaí are looking into the matter: “Gardaí received a report of an incident of criminal damage that occurred in the early hours of Saturday, December 14, 2024 in the Rathmore area of Aughnacliffe, Longford.

Investigations are ongoing at this time.”