OMP pitch ripped up by vandals who drove car across it at weekend

The Chairman of OMP United Football Club has hit out at recent "mindless" vandalism where a car was driven across the its pitch at Blackcastle, Navan, causing extensive damage on Saturday night. Brian Murphy told how the culprits had driven onto the pitch "pulled a few handbrakes ripping up the pitch" adding that it is not the first time.

He said it could cost a few thousand euro to repair and everything they do has to be fundraised for. "We will have to get it reseeded, rolled and spiked. The senior team is training and will have to be diverted to the MDL which costs us money as well."

Brian outlined that there are ongoing problems with anti-social behaviour in the area which are worse in summer and they have found bottles and all sorts of drug paraphernalia around the pitch. They are now working on putting in a planning application to get the site secured and improve security.

"The area as a whole is brilliant. There are only a few bad eggs who ruin it for everybody else," said Brian. He told how about two years ago, a motorbike was driven on the pitch and burnt out

The anti-social behaviour is not just an issue for OMP club and Brian said there are a lot of houses looking out on the pitch so it is a security issue for them as well.

 

 

Tony Macari of OMP shows the damage to the pitch

Meanwhile, local councillor Padraig Fitzsimons said one of the problems is the area is poorly lit and it is wide open for antisocial behaviour and there are a number of accesses.
"It is so disheartening for the people who are trying to improve the area and get young people involved to see some clown in a car drive on the ptich and do this. The pitch will be unplayable for a couple of weeks."

Cllr Fitzsimons is hopeful that plans for development of the club's grounds will help address anti-social behaviour issues. A planning application is being prepared for fencing and lighting to improve security as well as an astroturf pitch and parking.

"Hopefully the development will stop anti-social behaviour in the area. The sooner the plans are in and they start, the better. The amount of work the club puts in and then to arrive and look at that is so disheartening," he said.