Appeal to parents following Athboy graveyard vandalism

The Dean of St James Church in Athboy is appealing to parents to be aware of where their children are and what they are up to after grave surrounds, railings and a headstone were recently vandalised in the Church of Ireland graveyard. Dean Robert Jones said that during the first week of August, a railing was pulled down and the surrounds around graves were disturbed. One headstone was also lifted and smashed on the ground into eight pieces, in the older part of the community graveyard. "The Church is a little off the beaten track behind McElhinneys. We have regular occurences of groups drinking there and a lot of rubbish is left but this was wanton vandalism," said Dean Jones. He added that it was the worst case of vandalism they had had this year and that last year, windows had been broken. Dean Jones said that the Gardai have been notified but said they have limited resources to keep an eye on the area and that as soon as Gardai appear, the culprits disappear. "It is impossible to understand the mentality. What kick is there out of smashing headstones?" he asked. Just a week later, a parishioner saw a group of young men on the roof of the church. Dean Jones contacted the families of the graves that were vandalised and he said the families were disgusted and "very upset". "Most people, when they lay a loved one to rest in a graveyard, they expect them to lie in rest and in peace," he said. Dean Jones said they had put in extra lighting a few years ago which had helped a little but they are now seriously looking at putting in CCTV, which he said seems to be the only thing that might work. He is also appealing to parents of youngsters to be aware of where they are and what they are doing.