The lobby group representing Travellers at Dunsink Lane in Finglas, Dublin has strongly condemned the vandalising of a local golf course on Monday night, blaming the attack on a "warped" element within the Traveller community.
Mr Martin Collins, of Pavee Point, which led the campaign against the closure of Dunsink Lane last week, said he was "appalled, devastated and embarrassed" by the break-in at Elmgreen Golf Course, which left 11 of 21 greens destroyed at an estimated cost of €60,000.
Although gardaí said they were investigating a number of lines of inquiry, Mr Collins said he had "no doubt" the destruction was caused by "a minority element" within the 400-strong Traveller community based at the lane.
"It's appalling and disgraceful for anyone to think they have a right to make this sort of point," he said.
"We completely disassociate ourselves from them, and we would appeal to that element in our community which is hell-bent on anti-social and criminal behaviour to step back and reflect on their actions and realise they are not helping the community but doing the community damage." Gardaí, who are examining CCTV camera footage, said the attack took place some time between 8 p.m. on Monday and 8 a.m. yesterday.
It is understood the vandals climbed through bushes on the 16th fairway, avoiding security men posted at the two entrances to the course, a municipal facility run by Fingal County Council. The vandals then proceeded to pour petrol on the greens and dig trenches and daub slogans, reading "open the road" and "Garda scum".
One slogan referred by name to a Garda superintendant who was involved in policing last week's protests over the erection of a barrier at the Finglas end of the lane.
On Monday night, the windows were also smashed on a laboratory building at neighbouring Dunsink Observatory, where 24-hour security was installed last week to protect Observatory House, a national monument.
Mr Alan Williamson, manager of Elmgreen, said the course would reopen on a limited basis in a few days but "it will take at least a month to nurse it back to full health".
