FIANNA Fáil councillor Kieran O’Hanlon has condemned vandalism at Geraldines soccer pitch at Kilmurry Road in Garryowen this week.
The City East representative is now calling for an additional CCTV camera to be provided at the clubhouse. Urgent action, he says, is also required to deal with scrambler bikes, which were used in this instance to damage the playing field.
“Vandals on scrambler bikes dug a hole in the earth mound, surrounding the green at Garryowen and drove on to the pitch and tore up the surface by spinning the wheels on the grass. This has resulted in the pitch been declared unplayable and Sunday morning’s match had to be transferred to the adjoining Richmond pitch,” Cllr O’Hanlon told the Limerick Post.
“Club volunteers have been carrying out repairs but it will take some time before the pitch is brought back to its pristine condition.
“The ‘Dines’ have been providing football facilities for the youth of Garryowen for decades and their grounds are a credit to the club. I had the pleasure of meeting John Delaney FAI when he visited the grounds and he was highly impressed with the facilities and grounds and commented that they were one of the most successful clubs in Limerick.
“The hard-working committee are to be commended and should be encouraged to continue their work for the community of Garryowen. They have assured me that this act of vandalism will not prevent them from making the club and the pitches the best for the players in the area,” he concluded.
