Graveyard wrecked in town trouble

Some of the headstones were "smashed into pieces"

Headstones dating back hundreds of years have been damaged in ongoing violence and vandalism in a County Down town.

Almost a dozen headstones at Downpatrick Presbyterian Church have been broken or pushed over.

Rev Harry Robinson said he was unable to comprehend the attack.

"These aren't pushed over by tiny children. A group of folk have come here and deliberately inflicted this damage on the graveyard," he said.

"Our site is on a slope and what they've done is they've got behind the headstones and pushed very hard until finally they got them off their foundations and they've toppled them down."

Speaking on Radio Ulster's Nolan Show, Rev Robinson added: "Some, on impact, have smashed into pieces. Others, it would seem, slightly smaller ones, when they have got them over, it looks then as if they have actually jumped on them to make them break."

'Liaising'

A PSNI spokeswoman said: "Police are aware of an incident where gravestones were damaged in the grounds of a church in the Fountain Street area of Downpatrick over the weekend and are liaising closely with members of the church.

"These type of incidents are a priority to local neighbourhood officers who want to see an end to such needless damage and destruction, and bring those responsible before the courts."

There has been ongoing trouble in Downpatrick in recent weeks, including the throwing of petrol bombs at the police and the setting alight of wheeled bins.

Part of the town's Vianstown Road was dubbed a "no go" area after up to 40 youths ran amok for several hours in the run-up to Halloween.

It has emerged that a website may be being used to orchestrate violence in the town.