Residents of a north Dublin neighbourhood are furious after vandals sprayed racist graffiti onto toilets and damaged the playground in a much-loved park.
Photographs obtained by Dublin Live show racist graffiti sprayed all over the toilet block in Millennium Park in Blanchardstown.
On Tuesday, Sinn Fein Cllr Angela Donnelly first noticed the "shocking" graffiti sprayed on the toilet block both inside and outside.
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She told Dublin Live: "It's shocking. So much work has been put into the park, it was looking amazing. A huge amount of damage has been caused to the toilets and the playground.
"It's very disappointing, but this isn't the first time as there have been several incidents of vandalism in the park."
Cllr Donnelly said that the newly opened Shakleton Gardens is a "great addition" to the community while Hartstown Park has also been upgraded.
She said: "The Millennium Park is the park I visit most often, and the upgrades being undertaken are fantastic. Stone walls have been rebuilt by a stonemason, there are two sculptures carved from trees, new signs with information and the area’s history are displayed, wildflower meadows are beginning to bloom and there is a path widening piece of work about to commence."
Cllr Donnelly is now calling on Fingal County Council to have more park rangers on duty in the park to protect the upgraded works.
"When the playground was first opened there was always a park warden in it. The park wardens are stretched too thin and cannot possibly provide enough surveillance. We need more park rangers, and we need a stationary park ranger in areas that are getting damaged constantly.
She added: "A park ranger stationed in the Millennium Park during the summer months would really help alleviate the situation."
"I understand that the gardai are investigating the damage caused to the Millennium Park and Fingal County Council have been very proactive in rectifying and repairing any damage, but this is not the first time the playground has been vandalised and unfortunately it will not be the last."
A spokesman for Fingal County Council said: "The senseless vandalism at Millennium Park is currently being investigated by An Garda Siochána and the Council.
"The damage included obscene graffiti in the toilet cubicles and on children’s playground equipment.
"Signage within the park was also covered with graffiti. All the offensive graffiti was removed immediately by our Operations Team.
"There are currently two mobile park rangers rostered at given time to cover all the parks across the Dublin 15 operational area. Hours of work are currently 8am until 8pm."
Dublin Live has contacted An Garda Siochana for comment.
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