Anger as Naas cancer garden vandalised

There is widespread dismay in Naas over the vandalising of a garden created by volunteers for those affected by cancer.

Flowers which had been planted just two days previously by local groups were stolen last Friday from the site at Fairy Flax on the Blessington Road.

Cllr Sorcha O'Neill, who was involved in creating the garden, has appealed for anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area overnight last Friday to Saturday, February 15 to 16, to contact local gardai.

The garden was a joint project between the Naas Access Group, Tidy Towns, Men's Shed, Friends of Naas Hospital and Tesco. Some €250 euros worth of plants and trees had been planted in the garden.

"It seems to be a trending crime. I know this has happened to Naas Tidy Towns a couple of times last year and in my own estate when our residents association planted new flowers," said Cllr O'Neill. "Others have since told me it's happening in Blessington too. It's just ridiculous and soul destroying to have the hard work of volunteers is just ripped up like that."

Naas Tidy Towns said that it was the fourth time its flowers had been stolen.