Nuns at a Dumbarton convent are praying that their decision to go public with the harassment they've faced from teenage gangs will bring the disorder to an end.
Sisters at the Carmelite Convent in Clerkhill revealed their home has been targeted by groups of young people, with windows egged, doors kicked and access to the convent obstructed by smashed glass and damaged fencing.
Community police chief, Inspector Ryan McMurdo, said he was “horrified” by the incidents - with the top cop personally vowing to put an end to the unruly behaviour, reports the Lennox Herald.
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Opening up to about the situation facing sisters at the monastery, Prioress, Sister Allain Docherty, said: “We’ve been having some bother for a wee while with children coming and going.
"But on Tuesday (February 14) there was a crowd of about seven or eight who were kicking the door, ringing the doorbell, shouting and screaming. They egged the windows.
“We phoned the police, but by the time they arrived the group had gone.
“On the Thursday (February 16) there was a bigger group. There were about 10 people.
“When they saw someone taking a photograph they disappeared back down the avenue.
“They stayed at the corner of the avenue for ages. Eventually we closed the curtains and went away.
“They were throwing stones and egging the windows.
“They were so wild.”
Sister Docherty said that youngsters coming to the convent’s ground wasn’t unusual, but that this was an unusually threatening incident.
She continued: “Nothing like this has happened before. Sometimes we get kids in the garden and we tell them it’s private property. They can be a wee bit cheeky on occasion, but this was different altogether.
“This was a gang of youngsters and it was a shock. We didn’t expect it at all.
“Everyone knows what it’s like to hear someone banging and kicking on the door. It’s frightening.
“They knocked the fences over and there was glass on the road that stopped people driving on it which had to be cleared.”
The issue was highlighted by Local Area Commander, Inspector Ryan McMurdo, who revealed his personal connection with the convent.
Inspector McMurdo said: “Carmelite Convent is a cause close to my heart. I was a pupil at St Michael’s Primary which shared the grounds with the convent.
“It’s a place that’s well known to me.
“I was horrified when I became aware of the anti-social behaviour that’s ongoing up there.
“I’m pleased to report that, whilst enquiries are still ongoing, we’ve identified a couple of the people involved in the anti-social behaviour.
“People will be charged with that and I’ll personally take responsibility for linking in with the nuns at the convent for some reassurance.”
Sister Docherty thanked Inspector McMurdo for his work, which she hopes will help cut down on youth crime generally across the area.
She concluded: “The important thing to remember is that we are not the only ones. This has reportedly been going on in other areas around Dumbarton.
“The police are really trying to get to the bottom of it.
“This has brought a lot to light, people have seen it online and been upset by it. We hope that it leads to things getting better across the area.
“The community police are really on the job. They have been up to discuss it with us. Inspector McMurdo phoned me last week and said they were going to pull out all the stops to get this sorted.
“We’re not as worried now. I don’t think the group will show their faces up here for a long time because of the publicity this has created.
“We don’t want to get anyone into trouble. We just want them to stop this kind of behaviour.”
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