Gardaí investigate criminal damage to ‘rainbow crossing’

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Roscommon Gardaí are investigating an act of criminal damage following the discovery of offensive slogans on a rainbow crossing at Abbeytown in Roscommon.

The rainbow crossing, situated between the County Library and CBS Roscommon, was installed by Roscommon County Council to mark the ‘Belong To Stand

Up Awareness Week’ last November.

The LGBTQ+ and Allies Student Group at Roscommon Community College had campaigned for the construction of the rainbow crossing to mark the annual event which is aimed at schools and youth services to denounce homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying.

The graffiti, which was discovered some time around January 27th, contained bible references and also a reference to retired priest Fr Sean Sheehy, who last October denounced homosexuality as a sin during mass in Listowel, Co. Kerry.

Local Gardaí say they are at the early stages of investigations into the incident and have appealed for witnesses to contact them at Roscommon Garda Station on 090-6638300 with any information which might help them in their enquiries.

Speaking on the Joe Finnegan Show on Shannonside FM last Friday, Deputy Fitzmaurice said there had been “a lot of shenanigans” in the Dáil recently.

“At the end of the day, there is a lot of theatre going on up there at the moment. There’s a vying at the moment for who’s going to be the next government, to be quite frank about it,” he said.

“At the end of the day, SIPO is going to sort this. Yes, SIPO needs more powers in my opinion, and it will get those powers”.

Cloonakilla works to be completed by September

Roscommon County Council has said planned road safety works at Cloonakilla National School, Bealnamulla, are at the design phase and are expected to be completed by September.

The works, which include road resurfacing, the installation of footpaths, a pedestrian crossing and a roundabout, were Part 8 approved in November of last year.