Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Belfast Live
Belfast Live
National
Sarah Scott

Steeple Play Park Antrim closed after "absolutely deplorable" arson attack

A popular play park in Co Antrim will be closed over the school holidays after an "absolutely deplorable" arson attack.

Steeple Play Park in Antrim was targeted by vandals on Thursday night, February 9, with extensive damage caused to the equipment. On the same night, damage was also caused to the toilet block at Centenary Way in Ballyclare.

The park and the toilets have become a hotspot for anti-social behaviour and officials at Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council have spent £30,000 repairing damage to Steeple Park in the last twelve months alone, and a further £20,000 repairing damage to the toilets at Centenary Way.

READ MORE: PSNI name man who died in crash on NI road

The Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Alderman Stephen Ross, said he was “horrified at the damage that was done” after he visited the two sites this morning with a number of local councillors.

"These acts of vandalism in a children’s play park and public toilets in the heart of our borough is absolutely deplorable behaviour," he said.

"The fire damage caused at Steeple Park now means this popular children’s play area will be closed over the school holidays.

"Our play parks are there to serve the local community, a place to enjoy with family and friends. Unfortunately these attacks are not isolated incidents, Steeple Park and Centenary Way are regularly subject to anti-social behaviour and I am only grateful that no-one was injured in the attacks last night."

The Mayor added: "This behaviour cannot and will not be tolerated in today’s society. The damage to Centenary Way public toilets has left the Council with no option but to close these toilets at an earlier time of 6pm to help eliminate this ongoing anti-social behaviour, causing inconvenience to local residents and visitors to the town.

"The Council has increased security patrols in the areas and I would urge the public if they see any suspicious activity to contact the PSNI immediately. We cannot allow this small minority of people to continually destroy our Borough."

READ NEXT:

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here. To sign up to our FREE newsletters, see here.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.