by Louise Doyle
THE son of an elderly woman targeted in a series of unsavoury incidents has called on whoever is responsible to desist from their cruel behaviour.
Eamonn McGinley has told of how his mother, Madge, has been left heartbroken after precious family photographs were defaced in recent weeks.
The vandalised photos, were part of an exhibition of family photographs featured in the community hall on Inishbofin island.
The project was carried out by a member of the island committee in 2015 when celebrating the 50th anniversary of the opening of the chapel on the island.
Speaking to the Donegal News, Mr McGinley has called for an end to this “living nightmare”, revealing his mum has also endured a number of incidents over the last two years relating to her original family home.
“Some time between the start of September and October 10 of this year, the photographs were defaced with a knife. This heartless act has left mum heartbroken, as two of her sons, Denis and Jimmy and her husband, John, have passed away. To see that someone would take a knife to her family’s photograph has left her deeply distraught.”
Mr McGinley told of the toll of heartbreak being experienced by his devastated mum.
“Her son Denis was killed in a fishing boat tragedy in September 1995, fishing from and living on the island at the time.
“Since then, she has suffered more heartache, with her eldest son, Jimmy, dying of a brain tumour in February 2019 and her husband, John, passing away in February 2021. Her husband spent all his years fishing on the island until he was in his early 80s, and he held the island very close to his heart.”
The defaced family photos have since been taken down by her daughter, and the family have removed it from the community hall on the island.
But Mrs McGinley has also been victim to intimidation, with incidents taking place at the home she was raised in.
“In the last two years, the house she was brought up in, ‘Teach Whiting’ has been under a sustained attack from having paint thrown on the windows, windows broken with bricks, the front door half kicked in and locks to the house and sheds tampered with and glued, along with a memorial of her uncle Charlie McGee, which was erected on the house, and who was the first RIC man killed in the 1916 rising, defaced with a knife and had to be taken down due to the severity of the damage.”
Gardaí in Falcarragh are investigating the incidents, and believe the person or persons responsible are local to Inishbofin.
“They believe these mindless acts have been carried out by a person or persons from the island, as these acts happen outside the summer months when no tourist visits the island,” said Mr McGinley.
“It’s heartbreaking really, especially for my mother who only wants to live in peace.
“With Christmas coming it’s something we can do without, as our house is empty enough with two of her sons and husband no longer with us.
“Hopefully someone might know something to pass to the gardaí and end this living nightmare.”
Anyone with any information, no matter how small, is urged to contact gardaí on (074) 9135113.
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