CARS were attacked, residents were disturbed and fires were lit in what was a Halloween horror show in Keady on Wednesday night.
Sinn Féin Councillor Darren McNally has strongly condemned the unacceptable actions of a small minority of youths in Keady over the Halloween period.
“On the day before Halloween, cars where attacked with muck balls and the electricity box in Fairgreen estate was vandalised resulting in no street lighting in the estate leaving many residents frightened,” said Mr McNally
“Throughout the day of Halloween, fires where lit in Fairgreen Avenue on the footpaths, using tyres. As a result the pedestrian route from the estate into the town via the community centre was blocked by a burning barricade. Fire crews where attacked with stones and fireworks when trying to attend the fires.”
Councillor McNally continued: “When I rang the council about a large number of tyres that had been left in the area, I was told that there was no personnel to come out and remove the tyres. I will be taking this issue further by raising it with them.
“On Halloween night local businesses where attacked, windows were broken, phone boxes where smashed in the town and the local SELB youth drop-in service suffered damage.
“It was a mindless few that carried out these unacceptable attacks on premises throughout the town. I will be setting up a meeting with key stakeholders such as the PSNI, Housing Executive and the council in the coming weeks, to try and come to a solution to tackle this problem.”
Meanwhile, Keady SDLP Councillor Thomas O’Hanlon has condemned an attack on the SELB Youth Office in Keady on Halloween night during which two windows were broken.
Councillor O’Hanlon said: “The SELB Youth Office in Keady is a hive of activity, the youth workers do amazing work with young people form the area and in turn the young people from Keady Youth Forum have been making a very valuable contribution to the local community.
“This morning I was contacted by members of the local community expressing their disgust at this attack. The building has been attacked previously, but attacking the youth office is a new all-time low. Those who attacked this facility are attacking the young people who use the facility.
“I called by the office this morning to see the damage for myself and was disgusted to see the damage caused. Windows were broken in the youth office and yet again the glass in the phone box was shattered. I condemn those responsible and would appeal for this type of activity to stop.
“This is a complete contrast to the good work Keady Youth Forum is going. Earlier this year the Youth Forum picked up a special award at the Mayor’s Awards in Armagh in recognition of their work and next week the group are rolling out a campaign on road safety for young drivers.’
In conclusion Mr O’Hanlon said: ‘There is no excuse for this type of neither attack nor can the fact that it is Halloween is used as any excuse. This is not about spoiling the fun for anyone but senseless attacks on buildings cannot be justified and I would appeal for them to stop.”
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