Council Condemns Dangerous Vandalism at Grange Play Park

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council has strongly condemned a serious act of vandalism at Grange Play Park, Omagh, which had the potential to cause significant injury to young children.

Council staff attended the play park on Friday 28 August following a report received at approximately 11.15am of broken glass within the facility. Upon inspection, it was discovered that glass bottles had been deliberately smashed against and beneath the large multi-play climbing units, leaving broken glass scattered throughout the internal frames such as tunnels and walkways, climbing ropes and platforms. Glass was also found across other areas of the play park.

In many locations, the broken glass was concealed within the structure of the equipment or blended into surfaces, meaning it was not always clearly visible to users and presented a significant health and safety risk, particularly to young children using the facility.

The extent of the damage required an immediate response from Council staff, with several employees undertaking a painstaking clean-up operation. Part of the play park had to be temporarily closed to protect public safety, preventing children and families from enjoying the facility.

The Council has described the incident as a reckless and irresponsible act which showed a complete disregard for the safety and wellbeing of others. The matter has been reported to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) for further investigation.

The play park has now been fully reopened following extensive cleansing and safety checks.

Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor Debbie Coyle, said:

“I am appalled by this completely irresponsible act of vandalism. Deliberately smashing glass across and within children’s play equipment is not only reckless, but also potentially life changing.

What makes this incident even more concerning is that much of the broken glass was not immediately obvious and was hidden within areas of the play equipment where children play and climb. This created a very real health and safety risk, as a child could easily have come into contact with sharp glass without seeing it.

Our parks and play areas are valued community facilities that are there for local families and visitors to enjoy safely. It is deeply disappointing that Council staff had to divert time and resources away from other important work to deal with this needless and dangerous behaviour.

Sadly, this is yet another incident of vandalism and anti-social behaviour affecting Omagh in recent weeks. Such actions damage community assets, put people at risk and create unnecessary costs for the ratepayer. I would urge anyone who witnessed suspicious activity in the area or who has information about those responsible to contact the police.”

The Council is reminding all users of its parks and open spaces to remain vigilant and report any incidents of vandalism, anti-social behaviour or safety concerns immediately.

Anyone who becomes aware of vandalism or damage to Council property should contact Fermanagh and Omagh District Council on 0300 303 1777 or email info@fermanaghomagh.com. Furthermore, if anyone witnesses an act of vandalism or anti-social behaviour taking place, they should report it to the PSNI on 999 if there is a risk of serious injury, immediate danger or a crime is in progress.