Search is on for penguin vandals

CCTV footage may lead to the arrest of a number of young men who vandalised a fibreglass promotional penguin outside an aquarium in Dingle, Co Kerry.

It will cost about €5,000 to repair the stand-out object erected two years ago at the entrance to Dingle Oceanworld.

Gardaí are following a definite line of inquiry into the incident during which two flippers, about three feet in length, were broken off the 12ft high object.

They have examined CCTV footage which shows a number of young men attempting to interfere with object at about 2.30am on Monday last.

Some people also saw what was happening and alerted the gardaí.

Oceanworld director Kevin Flannery yesterday said the men had tried to remove the whole penguin and obviously thought it was a “great joke’’ during St Patrick’s weekend festivities.

“But, criminal damage has been caused and that’s the hard fact of life,’’ he added.

Mr Flannery said the object was an important promotional tool for the aquarium which is visited by about 100,000 people annually.

It will now have to be sent to England for repairs, he said.

Mr Flannery also said they were considering the use of anti-vandal, non-dry paint to help curb further malicious damage at the facility.

“This paint does not rub off easily and people can’t deny where they were when it’s found on their hands,’’ he said.