Link between golf club vandalism and travellers probed

Travellers tonight condemned the vandalism of a public golf course in Dublin.

Pavee Point, which organised the recent protest at Dunsink lane that caused traffic chaos on the N3, said the €60,000 of damage caused at the Elmgreen Golf Centre was totally unacceptable.

“We absolutely condemn it. We do not support or condone anything like that,” said a spokeswoman.

“We hope the gardaí can do their job and prosecute anyone who’s involved.”

The Elmgreen Golf Centre is publicly owned by Fingal County Council, which was at the centre of protests when it erected a barrier at Dunsink Lane.

Intruders dug up 11 out of 18 greens with pickaxes and shovels last night. They also poured oil on two of the greens and dug in slogans such as ‘Open Road’ and ‘Garda scum’. Another slogan written in oil contained the name of a local Garda officer.

Gardaí were tonight investigating a link between the vandalism and the Dunsink lane protest, which took place close to the golf course. The protest was called off yesterday following a meeting between representatives of the Travelling community and the local authorities.

Elmgreen Golf Centre manager Alan Williamson said staff had been on alert all week to the possibility of an attack.

“When this was resolved last night, we thought we were back to normal. We had security at the gates but they didn’t go that way.”

He said the resodding would cost around €60,000, while the two greens damaged by oil would require more treatment.

“It’s worse than the digging up because the oil seeps down into the soil and you have to dig down to remove it. We’re very disappointed because we’ve all been here since the course opened and seen it grow.”

Elmgreen has attracted nearly two million visitors to its 18-hole course and driving range since it was set up in 1995.

It received offers of help from other Dublin golf courses and hopes to reopen to the public on Monday.