A family has been forced to flee their home in a Mullingar housing estate after it was targeted and smashed up in a disturbing Saturday night incident.
The house in the Grange area of Mullingar was vandalised twice on the same night and the family who lived there were forced to find alternative accommodation.
A visit to Grange Meadows, Mullingar, last Wednesday revealed a disturbing problem, one that is under the investigation of the Gardaí, who are still appealing for witnesses. The incident does not invovle members of the travelling community.
When Topic called to the scene last Wednesday, Westmeath County Council had just completed their work of boarding up what was once a happy, bustling family home. We spoke to the distraught family involved.
“This happened last Saturday night, when the back door was smashed and our house broken into. We were not there at the time, but we were told it was going to happen and we informed Gardaí. They told us they would watch our house all night,” said the devastated mother, who did not want to be identified.
“Everything in the house has been smashed, from the windows to the microwave, washing machine and cooker. There is glass everywhere. Our house was completely trashed and the incident was videoed (on a mobile phone). We know who’s involved and they just think they can ruin everyone’s life,” she added.
The state of the family house in Grange was shocking and it’s dreadful to think this is happening in Ireland in 2015. The pictures of the scene in Grange last Wednesday will shock readers, but it illustrates a serious issue for Mullingar.
“People are being terrorised; in some cases dogs have been used to attack people. Threats have been made, but we have been told nothing can be done about threats,” a resident told Topic.
The mother of the person whose home was vandalised said she feels the Gardaí don’t treat the problem seriously because it’s happening in Grange. Last October the windows in the same house were shot at, but nobody has been prosecuted in relation to that incident.
The woman whose home was wrecked broke down in tears as she explained how she is at her wits end.
“I have a three-year-old daughter and I’m fearing for her safety. Already I have had a miscarriage because of the stress and pressure of what’s going on. There have been threats made against my daughter and I’m terrified something will happen her,” she said.
As revealed by Topic last week, families on the housing list are fearful of being moved to the Grange area because of fears over an ongoing feud in the area.
The Council, the Gardaí and members of the local community are to hold an emergency meeting in March, but this is too late for the family who have had to flee their home.
