Vandals Smash their way through carriages at Downpatrick and County Down Railway
Once again the Downpatrick and County Down Railway (DCDR) has experienced a break-in with the vandals causing a very significant amount of damage.
The DCDR provides a huge amount pf pleasure to families, railway enthusiasts and volunteers from across a wide area and is one of the key tourism hubs in Downpatrick along with the St Patrick Centre and Down Arts Centre.
Two male individuals aged between 6th form to early 20s smashed their way through glass windows and doors on their mindless rampage on one of the trains.
If you recognise the persons concerned on CCTV, please contact the police or DCDR:
https://www.facebook.com/downrail
DCDR Chairperson Robert Gardiner described the recent attack as “demoralising.”
He added that around five windows were smashed and that these are expensive specialist glass items, including their rubber seals which sometimes have to be custom made, and that the cost could run run into several thousands of pounds.
“The response from the community has been very heart-warming and that is very much appreciated by our volunteers.
“Our hard-working volunteers find these attacks demoralising and this destruction is just mindless. It just adds more pressure to all the volunteers and to their workload.
“We do have CCTV in operation and these individuals have been recorded on camera. It is now a police matter.
“The CCTV did catch previous intruders on the DCDR premises and one was in fact charged in court for his role in the break-in some years ago.
“It has been about 4 years since our last major incident. Our volunteers now have to pick up the pieces – literally.
“These two persons went through the train and forced doors open as they went. This was the most vicious and determined attack in years.”
Robert added that since Covid and then the flood in Halloween 2023, the DCDR had felt the pressures, and was just getting back on its feet again.
He said: “We have just tidied up the final paperwork with the Rail Safety Authority and once we get the final clearance we will be able to operate once again welcoming in the public for visits and train rides.
“We thought things were going pretty well and this setback then emerged. It is disheartening. Our volunteers have to clear up this mess and then where possible do the repairs.”
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UPDATE: 23 9 24.
Downpatrick and County Down Railway Museum: Member’s Statement in the NI Assembly today by Andrew McMurray MLA
“Thank you Mr Speaker.
“I rise today to to speak to the vandalism that was visited upon carriages and property of the Downpatrick and County Down Railway Museum.
“On Friday afternoon, a group of individuals broke into the grounds and undertook a period of vandalism to a number of carriages.
“This is particularly galling to me as I park in the shadow of this museum when I am in Downpatrick and missed these individuals by a matter of moments.
“This is an unbelievably depressing setback for the museum and volunteer group who were just getting back on top of things after the floods of last year also caused a significant amount of damage.
“Mr Speaker, when you read, hear and see the dedication that the volunteers put into restoring these carriages to allow them to take to the tracks, it makes the vandalism all the more difficult to fathom.
“Varnishing, painting, metalwork, mechainic-ing, engineering, ground works and gardening are all some of the long jobs which go into preparing the site and which were undone in a matter of mindless minutes.
“In particular, a carriage from 1955, only recently restored, came in for particular attention from the vandals.
“The quick response of the PSNI in dealing with this matter was also mentioned to me and on this I want to pass my thanks on as well to the local officers dealing with the incident.
“However, it does appear that there needs to be some clarification of the Trespass Laws in relation to railways to ensure the PSNI can be more confident on acting upon it.
“I know that the group were grateful for a visit from Minister O’Dowd over the summer, so if any action or correspondence can be made on this they would be grateful.
“Mr Speaker, I do wish to finish on some positives. The members of the group have been so uplifted by the community response since the actions became public. Messages of support and donations have been constant.
“Only a matter of weeks ago, the group were celebrating the 20th anniversary of line being opened between Downpatrick and Inch Abbey.
“So while this vandalism is difficult to get your head around, I don’t doubt the motivation and dedication which volunteers will show to repair the damage caused.
“Thank you, Mr Speaker.“
