MDL pitch damaged by car vandals

Over €2,500 of damage was caused to a Meath District and League (MDL) soccer pitch last week by mindless vandals who drove a car all over the ground. On the morning of Tuesday 24th May between 5.10am and 5.20am, the league grounds at Williamstown, Trim Road, Navan, was damaged after a car smashed through the barrier to the grounds. "That morning, the barrier securing the site was damaged as a likely result of a car being driven repeatedly with force directly at it to gain entry," said Gerry Gorman, MDL secretary. "On gaining entry, the car was driven onto one of our pitches, where it was spun around numerous times right across the pitch for a period of seven minutes or so. "It was also driven into a goalpost at such a force that it uprooted it, and bent the steel bar at the side of it, and as the net was caught around the car it was dragged, along with the goalpost, the full length of the pitch and crashed into the goal post on the far side with force," he said. "After approximately nine minutes on site, the car exited, and we understand it was burnt out about 50 yards from our entrance on the side of the road. Navan Gardai are investigating the incident." CCTV pictured recorded the car's movements for some of the period from the moment of entry until exit, and the vehicle can be identified as an old model Toyota Starlet, but it is not clear how many occupants were in car. Broken pieces of the car were strewn around the pitch, including a wing mirror, headrest and light fittings. The estimated cost to repair the damage done is €2,600. Navan Garda Station is seeking any informnation on the crime and can be contacted on (046) 902 1445.