Damage caused to Malin’s Green after stolen tractors ‘taken for a joyride’

Gardaí have launched an investigation after damage was caused to the Green in Malin town in a joyriding incident that followed the theft of six tractors and a forklift truck.

The vehicles were stolen from a commercial facility at Lagg near the village between 4.30am and 5.30am on Monday.

Gardaí say the vehicles were “taken for a joyride” in the centre of the village where a number of them were driven onto the green, causing damage to turf. The vehicles were recovered at around 9am on Monday.

Repairs to the Green were taking place on Tuesday morning.

Parked car damaged having been struck in Stranorlar

Andy McMonagle, chair of the Malin Development Association, said the vandalism - which is the second such incident in recent months - has caused anger in the village. He said parts of the Green had been “torn up” and left “a right mess”.

“It’s not acceptable and it's beyond a joke. We enter the Tidy Towns every year and the Green is one of the features of the town,” he said.

“It’s not an isolated incident. The same sort of thing happened at Halloween. We don’t need that - it’s vandalism basically. They know what they are doing and they are doing it for badness. It’s just horrible.”

Gardaí are appealing for anyone who may have seen the vehicles being driven to Malin town or may have captured them on dashcam to contact Buncrana Garda station on 074-9320540.