After a successful Ballymoney Show and the recent Twelfth July event this year, who both have used the Showgrounds with no issues, extensive criminal damage has now been caused to the building and space over the last few days.
A portion of the wall, which surrounds the football pitch. has collapsed after appearing to have been done Toppled deliberately.
Damage has also been caused to fixtures of the building itself, including 14 panels of glass part of the viewing area on the main building.
This vandalism, coupled with antisocial on the site, has caused great concern for The Board of North Antrim Agricultural Association, who own and manage the Ballymoney Showgrounds.
A spokesperson for the board has told us,
“(We) are extremely dismayed and disappointed to report a level of unprecedented damage and vandalism which has taken place at the Showgrounds over the past few days.
14 panes of glass on the second floor of the pavilion have been smashed by stones and blocks having been thrown at them. Spouting downpipes kicked and smashed from the walls.
A significant section of the perimeter wall has been battered and kicked until it has collapsed.
The littering of the area in front of the dugouts with alcohol, cigarettes and rubbish is nothing short of extraordinary but we have dealt with this in the past and generally turned a blind eye to it.
I think we can all agree that the level of vandalism and pure destruction can not be tolerated.
As a board we generally have allowed local residents to walk dogs in the grounds and have had no issue with this but this level of damage now leaves us with little option but to consider full and complete closure of the grounds to anyone.
The spokesperson went on to ask for information to be forwarded onto the police
“The police have been informed and they are actively seeking information on those responsible or contact the crimestoppers number directly and we can attempt as the community of Ballymoney to at least warn those responsible that this is not acceptable.
The Ballymoney Show which is ran on the first weekend of June each year is the principal objective of our association and in running such a significant event, we operate on a tight budget and duly such considerable damage as this bears a cost which the association does not need.
