80 footballs worth €5,000 stolen from Donegal GAA Training Centre 

Gardai are on the hunt for a football thief after around 80 footballs were stolen from the Donegal GAA Centre in Convoy.

The footballs, worth up to a collective €5,000, were taken from a storeroom at the centre recently.

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The incident, which has prompted Donegal GAA chiefs to up security at the facility, has been reported to An Garda Siochana, who are investigating, the Donegal GAA Chairperson Mary Coughlan confirmed to DonegalLive.

“They were stolen from one of a number of storerooms we have at the centre and it is quite clear that whoever did it, their sole intent was on the footballs,” Ms Coughlan said. 

“There was other gear in the storeroom, but all that was taken were the footballs.

“The footballs were mainly used by the underage academies, U20 football team and some seniors. 

“The balls were in those large mesh carrier bags and whoever took them would have needed a van or a large vehicle to carry.” 

The footballs were marked ‘DL’ with an indelible marker and, because of the marking, have no resale value”.

Ms Coughlan said: “It is pretty clear that whoever did it came with one intention and one intention only - taking the footballs. 

“It is very disappointing that someone would do such a thing and as well as the inconvenience, there is a big cost factor to the board as well. 

“Football nowadays cost between €50 and €60 so we are looking at somewhere in the region of just under €5,000 to replace them.” 

The storage room is just under the stand and is closed off by a roller shutter door, which was not locked.

Following the theft, Donegal GAA are reviewing security at the centre and are planning to install CCTV cameras in the coming weeks. 

Ms Coughlan said: “We are seeking tenders for a CCTV system on the building and around the centre and are making sure all storage spaces are locked at all times.” 

Meanwhile, the chairperson is appealing to anyone that saw any suspicious activity or knows about the whereabouts of the football contact any County Board official or the gardai.