Vehicles Overturned, Fire Set, CCTV Cut - Donaghcumper Site In Chaos As Culprits Cause €500K Damage

Tomorrow morning's Kildare Today show will cover this in more detail.

Approximately €500,000 worth of damage has occurred to vehicles and facilities at a site used by the Office of Public Works (OPW) to access Castletown House in Celbridge.

During the Bank Holiday weekend, four vehicles were overturned, a teleporter was driven into a river, and the wires on four CCTV units were cut on the grounds of Donaghcumper House.

Gardaí confirmed they are investigating an incident of criminal damage at the site and that enquiries are ongoing.

Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW, Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran, stated the damage to State property is estimated to exceed  half a million euro and called the incident “shocking and unacceptable.”

Image: OPW

He urged anyone with relevant information to contact Gardaí and said staff safety remains a priority.

The OPW stated that security measures are in place at Donaghcumper House and have been strengthened following advice from Gardaí.

Just last week, Kfm revealed details about an arson incident at Donaghcumper House.

The incident occurred sometime between 4:20 p.m. on Wednesday, April 23, and 7:15 a.m. on Thursday, April 24. 

During that incident, a toilet, several road bollards, and a welfare unit on the premises were set alight, resulting in an estimated €3,400 worth of damage.

OPW staff have been reporting to Donaghcumper House for transport to Castletown House since 10 April.

Between 22 and 30 April, the OPW recorded multiple incidents at the site, including fire damage to outbuildings and staff welfare facilities.

Kildare North Fianna Fáil TD Naoise Ó Cearúil said the latest incident is an "attack not only on the OPW but indeed the State". 

He described it as "absolutely scandalous". 

Image: OPW

Kildare North Sinn Fein TD Reada Cronin also condemned the incident:

"Disgraceful destruction to state property in Celbridge. As we continue to work hard to come to a solution in the re-opening of Castletown House, somebody has decided to engage in criminal damage to OPW equipment on the grounds of Donaghcumper," she said. 

She added: "This does not reflect either the people of Celbridge I'm working with or their campaign for the opening of Castletown grounds and keeping Lime Ave safe for children and pedestrians."

Kildare North TD Joe Neville said he is "shocked to hear today of the extreme criminal damage to the OPW facilities, security cameras and vehicles at the Donaghcumper House area which was being used to transfer staff".

He said that in a meeting with Minister Kevin 'Boxer' Moran today "TD’s were informed that over the weekend motor vehicles and machinery were destroyed and fires were started."

He added: "This professional criminal damage of state property is unprecedented for the OPW and is valued at circa €500,000 of taxpayer money. For me as a local TD it is incomprehensible and I hope the Gardai bring the perpetrators to task immediately."

Also reacting to the news, Social Democrats Cllr Nuala Killeen, said: "Shocked and saddened to see the damage to property and lands at the Donaghcumper site in Celbridge. I would urge anyone with information to contact Gardai."

She added: "I have been talking to groups in Celbridge and Leixlip and everyone is unified in their horror that this has happened and saddened to hear about the destruction to property at Donaghcumper. Thoughts and good wishes to the staff and all impacted by this serious criminal damage at the site."

Image: OPW

In the past hour, Save Castletown Committee issued a statement, expressing their "shock".

They said: "Save Castletown Committee would like to take this opportunity to express our solidarity with staff and those affected by these attacks." 

The Castletown Gate Protectors also took to social media: “We are shocked and deeply saddened by the news this evening about the extensive criminal damage to OPW property at Donaghcumper House. We condemn any such action in the strongest possible terms and hope those responsible are brought to justice swiftly," they said.

Tomorrow morning's Kildare Today show will cover these developments in more detail.