Offensive graffiti expected to be cleared today - Donegal News

GRAFITTI that was spray painted all over the walls of the toilets at Warden Beach is expected to be cleared today, according to Donegal County Council.

The graffiti appeared at the scenic beach in Fanad yesterday and its offensive messaging sparked outrage.

Milford-based councillor Declan Meehan condemned the graffiti as “brainless” and “scandalous, mindless vandalism”.

The Independent councillor told the Donegal News that he has never come across anything similar in his time as a public representative.

Donegal County Council has now confirmed to the Donegal News that “priority” works are underway to clean the walls of the toilets.

A spokesperson said: “The graffiti incident was reported to An Garda Síochána yesterday morning, and gardaí attended the site shortly afterwards. The matter is currently under investigation.

“Council personnel attended the site yesterday and commenced remedial works as a priority. Significant efforts have been made to clean the facility and remove the graffiti, and these works are continuing today. The offensive markings are currently being covered over, and the clean-up operation is expected to be completed by this evening.

He added: “The Council fully condemns this act of vandalism. It has caused considerable upset and concern within the local community. Every effort is being made to restore the facility, minimise the impact of the incident, and support the ongoing garda investigation.”

Meanwhile, gardaí are now appealing for information in relation to the graffiti.

They say it occurred between 8:45pm on Sunday, September 13 and 9am on Monday, September 14.

“We appeal to anyone who may have relevant information in relation to this incident to contact gardaí in Milford on 074-9153060 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111,” said Garda Gráinne Doherty.

Speaking about the graffiti yesterday, Cllr Meehan said: “It just seems to be coming from a place of Islamophobia and trying to kind of stir up something in the local community, which is bizarre and very disappointing.

“We would have seen anti-Ukrainian graffiti around the time of the beginning of the war in 2022. The Zs that were spray-painted on places around Letterkenny and around this area as well. But I’ve never seen something on this scale.”

He added: “It’s a bad reflection on the area and it’s not a reflection of the people living in the community at all.

“It’s a signature point on the Wild Atlantic Way. So even with the content aside, the fact that anyone would deface a building and a public amenity to that level is just completely brainless and mindless, and not considerate of the local community at all.

“It’s so unusual and it’s not something that we would ever want to see repeated in this area or anywhere else in the county.”

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