Senseless vandalism struck in Courtown Harbour when a young man snatched the ‘Baby Jesus’ from a crib and smashed it to pieces about a 100 yards away.

CCTV clearly identifies a group of young men walking past the open-air crib when one departs from the group and snatches the small figure and walks away with it.

“We have this guy on video and if anyone wants to see the video and identify him it can be saved,” said Donal O’Gorman, Harbour House.

The smashed remains of the plastic figurine of the ‘Baby Jesus’ was replaced in the crib accompanied by a handwritten note that poignantly read as follows:

“This is what someone thought of our crib and Baby Jesus. Picked him up on the road this morning in bits.”

There was widespread local condemnation of the act.

“Perhaps whoever took it thought they were being funny… But woke up this morning feeling silly. And if they dropped it back undamaged, nothing else would be said?” suggested one source.

Others felt it was “unbelievable” and “sad.”

This was the second year that the Light the Light commemoration was held and from that a Christmas tree and a crib were erected courtesy of Donal and Margaret O’Gorman. They also sold cakes and candles.

Donations received were split in two – half to Gorey Hospice and the other half to Courtown Tourism.

“We felt it gave a lovely warm feeling to the village at Christmas,” said Donal, who is mystified as to the mentality of the guy involved in an act that has shocked the community.

Full story in THE GOREY ECHO.