A military monument and cross of remembrance outside the main gate of Columb Barracks in Mullingar, untouched from the time it was first erected sixteen years ago until the army left the barracks, has been subjected to serious vandalism since then and especially this year. The situation is now so bad, moving the memorial is now being forced on the O.N.E. members, we’ve learned.
In the past week, there has been further acts of vandalism, on top of a serious attack just three weeks ago, when the vandalism became particularly bad and when Topic spoke to the PRO for O.N.E.T., Jason McKevitt, Mullingar, he confirmed that their organisation’s members now feel their memorial will have to be moved to a safer location in town, the attacks have become so damaging and so blatant.
“In other countries, like the US or Britain, and many other countries, if such damage was done to a national army monument, honouring the dead, it would be regarded as akin to burning the national flag, and those responsible would be endangering their lives,” he said.
“At least one of those who vandalised the O.N.E. monument did endanger lives,” he remarked, explaining that those who destroyed the floodlight fitting some time ago had left a live electric wire lying there, which was only found afterwards when an electrician was called to sort it out.
“On top of the serious vandalism a few weeks ago, we’ve actually had more attacks in the past week, and it’s become unbelievable,” he said.
“EXTREMELY ANNOYED”
Mr. McKevitt said that many fine former soldiers, people like Jimmy Carolan, Tommy Gunn, and Robert Archbold, were extremely annoyed and angry over the constant vandalism. “It’s very hard for all former army men to see their monument treated so badly right outside the barracks where they served for so long,” he said. “Its also an insult to the dead members.”
Current army personnel living in Mullingar are also annoyed, and all the soldiers and former soldiers point out that while army police were on duty at the barracks gate, there was no such vandalism. Now it is very vulnerable.
There were further acts of serious vandalism in the past week, just weeks after €800 had been spent on cleaning up the monument following the previous mindless vandalism. The wreath, laid at the cross, on 31 August, the annual day of remembrance by the national Chairman of ONET, when the Mass and the ceremony of remembrance took place at the barracks, was broken in pieces two weeks ago, and kicked around.
Two weeks ago, the monument was seriously disfigured again, smeared back and front with the contents of a tube of builders’ waterproof sealant, and scrawled with senseless graffiti. Names and drawings are scratched into the monument’s stonework, both on the back of the cross and on the pedestal, with names written in black marker.
An incensed Robert Archbold, of IUNVA, told us his organisation’s members are very seriously upset by what is happening, and said that not once while the army were stationed in Columb Barracks did any such attack take place.
Mr. McKevitt paid tribute to the efforts of the Gardaí to assist them after the recent attacks, but said unless the monument was located where it was under surveillance, and where people could visit it in comfort,it would be damaged again.
“We are talking to the County Council executive, and have the support of Town Mayor, Ken Glynn, so we are hoping to move the monument soon,” he said.
“We don’t want to move it from the barracks, but this is being forced upon us – a sad reflection for an army town, to have it defaced and damaged,” he said.
