Mindless thugs destroy equine trail

A TEAM of volunteers are gathering in Drumcondra this weekend to help restore an equine facility for blind and autistic children that has been senselessly vandalised.

ChildVision’s equine sensory trail was mindlessly destroyed by thugs who climbed over the wall on April 28 and ripped apart the facility that was put together by dedicated volunteers.

The vandalism came just days after a stoat got into the facility and killed doves, birds and turkeys that provided much interest for the children on their mobility lessons.

The stoat attack was upsetting but accepted as an act of nature. However, Head of Fundraising at ChildVision, Ruth Hickey, says the vandalism was harder to take.

“There’s been people climbing over the wall for years and we don’t really mind that as such, but nobody’s ever just torn the place apart like this – it was pretty vile vandalism,” she said.

The site has been dedicated to the blind for 160 years and ChildVision say the people of Drumcondra have always been very supportive.

Locals have rallied around again in the wake of the vandalism with offers of support.

“Drumcondra people are very aware of who we are and what we do,” said Hickey. “They’ve always been very respectful and always mind the place, and that includes the youngsters, so it was very shocking to see this vandalism.”

ChildVision staff are devastated that for the first time in the charity’s history, they not only have to repair the sensory trail but they also need to introduce security measures.

“It’s not the fixing up of the trail that’s shocking, it’s the realisation that we now have to secure it in some way to try and keep people out,” Hickey told Northside People.

“It’s something that we haven’t had to do before and it costs money.”

The National Education Centre for Blind Children is part funded by the State but ChildVision’s equine therapy service receives no funding, despite it being one of its most successful and beneficial therapies provided. 

The therapy is available to people from all over Dublin, not just those with vision loss but for children with additional disabilities who are on the Autism spectrum, and adults too.

The response to the vandalism has given ChildVision hope, with offers of help and equipment pouring in. 

“It’s really shining a light on a bad situation that so many people have been so supportive,” said Hickey.

“Shortly after we posted what had happened on Facebook Dave Dixon who has a woodwork company in the UK contacted me and offered to replace all the woodwork.”

Other offers of equipment have come from Motion Detection Lights, Red Castle Motors and GKT. However, more help and equipment is needed including a generator, CCTV, security gates, paint, a mulcher, spiked wall capping, horse mounting blocks and a farmyard gate.

More volunteers are also needed for a ‘Fix The Sensory Day Trail’ event taking place from 10am-1pm on Sunday, May 13. Anybody willing to help is being asked meet up at JoJo’s Café in ChildVision’s campus on Grace Park Road, Drumcondra. Updates will be posted on facebook.com/pg/ChildVisionIreland.