Cemetery vandalism in Clondalkin is condemned

A CLONDALKIN councillor has expressed his anger at the vandalism of Mount St Joseph’s Cemetery.

Cllr Francis Timmons (Ind) strongly condemned the “mindless” vandalism at the cemetery. He said he had tabled a motion last December calling on the council to ask a developer to put a higher wall around the historical site but claims that this was “ignored” by the council.

In the recent incident, vandals knocked over headstones and damaged and sprayed graffiti on the wall. 

Cllr Timmons pointed out that Mount St Joseph’s Cemetery is now a protected structure but he doesn’t feel that South Dublin County Council is doing enough to protect it.

A spokesperson for the developer insisted they were happy to assist the council in any way possible to protect and secure the cemetery.

“We have cooperated with the council and Clondalkin Tidy Towns over the years on works in the cemetery,” a spokesperson said.

Cllr Timmons added that his motion had also called on South Dublin County Council’s Heritage Officer to meet with Clondalkin Tidy Towns to advise and discuss the restoration of the cemetery.

He also submitted a motion asking the Clondalkin Area Committee of South Dublin County Council to write to the National Monuments Service seeking an assessment of the cemetery so that it can be added to the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. 

South Dublin County Council had not responded to our request for a comment at the time of going to press.

REPORT: Andrew Ralph