Spate of criminal damage incidents at Kildare heritage sites
A contractor had a phone knocked from their hand, shattering the screen during one incident
TWO of the historic estates in Kildare have reported 14 separate incidents of criminal damage and vandalism in the last two years including one spree that cost €500,000 this year alone.
These are at Castletown House and Donaghcrumper Houses.
One such incident at Donaghcrumper House in May saw four vehicles overturned, CCTV cameras damaged, and a teleporter driven into the River Liffey.
Other incidents from that location – which has been the subject of a major access dispute – included three cases of fire damage to staff buildings or toilets.
Also at Castletown House a contractor had a phone knocked from their hand, shattering the screen, while scrambler bikes tore up grass around a temple area.
At Castledermot Abbey, somebody scratched their name onto a tomb slab while another carved writing into stones at the Hill of Tara. Nationally, more than 100 incidents of deliberate damage to national historic properties were recorded in the past two years, including gates being rammed, "scorched earth" attacks, and oil poured over an ancient stone.
