Former Donegal Town Mayor angered following vandalism incident but apology later accepted

The former popular Mayor of Donegal Town, Ernan McGettigan and prime mover of the popular Food festival in the town as well chief organiser of the annual Christmas lights for many years was more than upset after an vandalism incident which occurred on the popular Bank walk.

A children's display with a fairy theme which had just been completed before Christmas, was vandalised and ripped off a tree last night.

He said that they had spent weeks planning and many hours making the display for children and the whole community to enjoy. Last evening, some individuals climbed up and decided to pull it to pieces. 

Ernan told donegallive that while the story had started very negatively, he was pleased that there was a good end to it by this afternoon and that is why he was happy to speak about it. 

He explained that himself and Mark McGinty, as part of the Donegal Town Community Chamber, had decided to spruce up some work at the entrance of the popular town walk which had been created previously.

He told donegallive: "Just before Christmas we decided to revamp the area, that had been put in place by local teacher Seamus Maguire. He originally put a sign up there and we revamped that and basically upcycled a lot of the things on it, as well as adding to it. 

"It was lovely and for the kids, letting them use their imaginations and the sign actually reads Fairy bank. We put it in place just after we put the Christmas lights up. We got a lot of positive comments about it. But it was an awful shock to see what had happened last night. It was still intact when I passed it last evening, but it was noticed that something was wrong with the display this morning. It was essentially pulled to pieces and pulled down."

"The positive thing is that the young individuals involved made contact through a parent, as well as the person who caused the damage came forward, rang me, had the guts to come forward, own up and apologise and in realising at time what he thought was a bit of fun. But he now realised that it wasn't fun as well as the damage and distress that had been caused as a result.

PIC: The display just after it was put up before Christmas

"In fairness, a lesson has been learned and we are leaving it at that." 

Ernan said that it was not just about the initial incident that he now wanted to highlight, but the positive manner in which the "unfortunate incident" was subsequently dealt with, by all concerned, which he both respected and appreciated.