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Popular sports club gutted after arson attack

Thursday, 26 June 2008

A vicious arson attack has left a Northside sports club struggling to replace over e4,000 worth of equipment.
Tyrellstown FC in Dublin 15 was just starting to get off the ground when its storage unit at Belgree Park, which contained the club’s entire belongings was set ablaze last week.
According to club chairman, Senan Finuncane, everything from jerseys to heavy equipment and goalpost nets went up in flames.
“This is a really devastating blow for us, especially since we worked so hard over the last two and a half years to build the club to what it is now,” he told Northside People.
“As we are a small club we couldn’t afford to pay for insurance, which means we now have to start from scratch.
“We don’t even have footballs to practice with,” he added.
The budding club has proved a popular outlet in the area with a membership of over 100 people.

Just recently, a number of representatives from the club were invited to Italy to take part in a friendly international game in Verona.
“It really is terribly deflating to be faced with the prospect of intensive fundraising to try to buy the equipment again,” the local sportsman explained.
“We really hope that this article will create an awareness of our situation.”
Senan pointed the finger of blame at local vandals.
“Some kids tend to congregate and drink behind the container,” he explained.
“I’d imagine they got completely drunk and decided it would be great to set the unit on fire. It’s just pure vandalism.”
According to club secretary Declan Quinn, Tyrellstown FC played a vital role in the ever-expanding community.
“There are over 1,000 children in the area and just a small percentage of those are catered for by the existing facilities,” he explained.
“Our club strived to get more and more children involved in sports but it’s now unlikely that we will be able to take on new teams for next year.
“We had worked hard to put the money together to get full training kits for our teams so that no one would have to reuse any jersey.”He added: “We even had to ask Fingal County Council if the club can postpone paying the rental for the pitch until we pick ourselves back up again.”
According to local councillor Michael O’Donovan (Lab) the vandalism is an “unfortunate, isolated incident”.
“It was really surprising and disappointing that such vandalism occurred in Tyrellstown,” he told Northside People.
“A survey recently revealed that levels of antisocial behaviour in the area were less than most other places throughout the country.
“The young people and those who just want to play sport are the ones most affected here which is a real shame.”

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