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14/04/2006
Blades left on children's slide
Vandals have left blades on a slide at a children's playground in County Londonderry.
Police have revealed that twelve blades, which were similar to those used for model making, were inserted in three rows of four, onto the slide at Maghera Leisure Centre.
The blades were discovered at around 1pm yesterday, and no one was injured.
A spokesperson for the PSNI today referred to the action as "a reckless and totally despicable act", and has urged parents to check equipment at playgrounds before letting their children use them.
Ulster Unionist Assembly Member for Mid- Ulster, Billy Armstrong, has condemned the actions of the vandals and has added that had it not been for the vigilance of Leisure Centre staff, young people could have been seriously injured.
Mr Armstrong said: “This is a marvellous facility which is greatly enjoyed by many young children in the district and I am appalled that mindless vandals could insert twelve blades in three rows on the slide to cause maximum damage to any children who used the slide and again I praise the vigilance of the staff, who averted what could have resulted in serious injury to any young child. The timing of the incident was also quite sinister, in that many young children are now off school enjoying an Easter break and this would have been one of the peak times for children using these facilities."
The MLA continued: "This play park has been opened for over three years and is an excellent facility which is widely used by everyone in the community and I would urge parents after this barbaric incident to check all equipment in play parks before allowing children to use them."
He also appealed for anyone with information to come forward to the PSNI and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice as they have no place in a civilised society.
(EF/SP)
Police have revealed that twelve blades, which were similar to those used for model making, were inserted in three rows of four, onto the slide at Maghera Leisure Centre.
The blades were discovered at around 1pm yesterday, and no one was injured.
A spokesperson for the PSNI today referred to the action as "a reckless and totally despicable act", and has urged parents to check equipment at playgrounds before letting their children use them.
Ulster Unionist Assembly Member for Mid- Ulster, Billy Armstrong, has condemned the actions of the vandals and has added that had it not been for the vigilance of Leisure Centre staff, young people could have been seriously injured.
Mr Armstrong said: “This is a marvellous facility which is greatly enjoyed by many young children in the district and I am appalled that mindless vandals could insert twelve blades in three rows on the slide to cause maximum damage to any children who used the slide and again I praise the vigilance of the staff, who averted what could have resulted in serious injury to any young child. The timing of the incident was also quite sinister, in that many young children are now off school enjoying an Easter break and this would have been one of the peak times for children using these facilities."
The MLA continued: "This play park has been opened for over three years and is an excellent facility which is widely used by everyone in the community and I would urge parents after this barbaric incident to check all equipment in play parks before allowing children to use them."
He also appealed for anyone with information to come forward to the PSNI and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice as they have no place in a civilised society.
(EF/SP)
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