The ‘sickening’ vandalism at the playground in Herbert Park
The playground in Herbert Park was defaced with racist and anti-semitic slogans
A playground in Dublin 4 was recently defaced with “sickening” graffiti, including “anti-semitic, misogynistic and racist” comments.
Fine Gael councillor James Geoghegan said a local resident alerted him to the vandalism in Herbert Park, Ballsbridge, and sent him photographs of the playground.
“Everything was defaced with some of the most disgusting things written, including swastikas and anti-Jewish signs, Neanderthal racial slurs, and misogynistic content,” said Cllr Geoghegan.
“The park is a very diverse park. To come along to your local playground with your kids and to see that is genuinely sickening.
“I’ve never seen racist graffiti or anti-semitic graffiti, so this is a new low, particularly with everything that’s taking place in the world at the moment,” he added.
There have been discussions in council meetings as to whether CCTV cameras should be installed in the playground to catch acts of vandalism.
The playground in Herbert Park was defaced with racist and anti-semitic slogans
“It’s really just sickening, and the idea that we’d have to put in a CCTV camera around a playground just to catch these culprits is also pretty gross,” cllr Geoghegan said.
“Nobody wants a big brother approach around playgrounds, but we need to get it out there that this cannot be tolerated.
“I think perhaps we need more community engagement with local gardaí. If residents are working with the gardaí, then the more engagement we can have from local gardaí and the more visibility.
“There have been a lot more patrols, for example, in the Ranelagh area as there was an increase in burglaries recently. I do see local Gardaí walking around the parks, and perhaps more community meetings that will make a difference,” he added.
A garda spokesman confirmed they are “investigating an incident of criminal damage that occurred at Herbert Park, Dublin 4, on Thursday, October 12”.
Dublin City Council has been contacted for comment.