Pictured above is the cement base in Foulksmills Public Park from which the granite table and benches were taken at the weekend (Pic: Foulksmills Tidy Towns)

THE CATHAORLEACH of New Ross Municipal District Council has condemned the theft of valuable outdoor furniture from the public park in Foulksmills.

The incident occurred over the weekend and saw a granite picnic table and three benches, worth around €1,000, stolen from the park.

Speaking to the New Ross Echo about the matter, Cllr. Michael Whelan, who is from nearby Ballycullane condemned the theft and encouraged anyone who has information about the matter to contact the Gardai.

Ironically, yesterday morning Cllr. Whelan attended a Joint Policing Committee meeting of Wexford County Council at which the members were informed that in general crime is down across the county.
“That was good news to hear but it doesn’t matter when there is still crime and it doesn’t make a difference when people are victims of crime,” he said.

“It’s terrible that this has happened but people do need to be vigilant and report crime when they see it happening,” he added.

Cllr. Whelan also praised the Tidy Towns committee in Foulksmills who, he said, do a fantastic job to promote their area.

“Foulksmills has been improving every year in Tidy Towns and that’s as a result of a lot of hard work from local people who fundraise for everything they do,” he said.

“When things like this happens it means they have to go back to scratch,” he added.

“The committee puts in a lot of hard work down there to attack people in and then someone comes along and does this.”

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact New Ross Gardai in confidence on 051-421204.