An autism cloud placed on the Rathore Star atop Camlough Mountain was ripped off in what has been described as a “dastardly act” of vandalism.
The Autism Families Public Page on social media highlighted the incident, which was discovered on Monday evening following a sunset ascent of the picturesque viewpoint.
However, the original cloud – placed there every year for a few months each April by Autism Families to highlight Autism Acceptance Month – was removed.
The clouds, the group says, “represent our amazing children, and they take pride in climbing up the mountain every year to see their initials, sharing photos of reaching the star.”
“It is truly heartbreaking and devastating to see that someone has purposely broken one of our clouds in a heartless and disgusting act. This is completely disrespectful to our families and to the community.”
“Four of us scoured the surrounding area in search of the cloud but found nothing, which leads me to believe it’s been taken away completely.”
Sinn Féin councillor Declan Murphy commented: “Sometime between Sunday morning and Monday evening, some vile individual ripped this metal cloud, which was bolted on, right off.
“This is a dastardly act with no regard for the hurt it causes to families and the community. There is no fun in this type of behaviour. Those who participated in this wanton act of vandalism should be ashamed of themselves.”
