‘Pathetic’ vandals target community centres

A LOCAL councillor has hit out at ‘pathetic’ vandals who spray painted graffiti onto two community centre buildings in Omagh.

Over the weekend, the MACCA Resource Centre, based off the Old Mountfield Road behind McBrides Spar shop in Omagh, was targeted by vandals.

The outside wall of the MACCA Resource centre was spray painted with black writing, while similar vandalism was caused to CKS Community Centre in Omagh.

This is the second time this year that the CKS Centre has been hit by vandals as the MUGA pitch at the Community Centre was closed for health and safety in June due to ‘a high level of vandalism.’

Cllr Anne-Marie Fitzgerald attended the MACCA Resource Centre on Monday morning to help tidy up the graffiti, and condemned the actions of those who carried out the vandalism.

Cllr Fitzgerald said, “I was angered to see the graffiti at the centres.

“There was wee kids and their parents walking past into Sure Start and then there was us trying to spray over the remarks.

“Local residents are disgusted and angered that some people are continually trying to run down the area and put a negative spin on all the hard work going on.

“Move on and decorate your own home,” said Cllr Fitzgerald.

During the pandemic, the MACCA centre has been providing essential support and care for local residents in the community by carrying out grocery runs and fundraising for local foodbanks.

Cllr Fitzgerald is disappointed that graffiti has been put on the walls after all the hard work carried out by volunteers.

Mrs Fitzgerald continued, “Instead of secretly spraying graffiti on the MACCA centre, why didn’t they step up during the current Covid crisis and help the local volunteers.

“Young and old came together to collect and distribute food, also raised thousands of pounds to put into the local foodbanks and free dinner distributions.

“These volunteers went to many peoples doors with much needed groceries and food committing many hours volunteering for the good of our community,” concluded Cllr Fitzgerald.