Anger at weekend trail of destruction in Sion Mills

Sinn Féin Councillor Danny Breslin says that people in Sion Mills are justifiably angry at the rampage of destruction carried out by a group of underage drinkers in the village over the weekend- a rampage which included: the breaking of windows at the Parochial Hall; at the security hut at Herdsman’s Mill; at the telephone kiosk on Main Street, tyres on vehicles being slashed also on Main Street; and damage to other private property in the village.

He said,
“Before this unprecedented weekend rampage, residents in Sion were already angry about the major upsurge in vandalism and other anti-social behaviour in the village.

“The upsurge in this anti-community activity is directly related to the upsurge in the problem of under-age drinking in the village and local people who witnessed what transpired at the weekend say that this was clearly evident.

“Local community activists have being trying their best to talk to young people who have been identified as being involved in this activity and impress upon the damage that they are not only doing to their own community but to themselves.

“This approach has met with some success but it is obvious that there are still some unscrupulous adults who are facilitating youngsters in their ability to access alcohol and I would appeal to anyone who is doing this to stop now.

“Likewise, I would appeal to all parents to make sure that their under-age children are not accessing alcohol and if they find out that that are, they should make strong representations to the person or establishment from which this alcohol was sourced.