by Louise Doyle
A SUSPECT in one of two investigations of criminal damage at two historical graveyards in Donegal just days apart has been identified.
Vandals damaged a number of headstones as well as a sign at Raymochy Abbey graveyard in Manorcunningham sometime between Friday, April 19 at 6pm and noon the following day.
The sign had been erected by Raymochy Historical Society.
Meanwhile, two headstones were smashed and another was knocked over in St Eunan’s Cathedral in Raphoe, sometime between Thursday, April 18 at 6.15pm and 9.30am the following morning.
The incident came just months after the graveyard was targeted by vandals earlier this year.
Speaking at the latest Joint Policing Committee (JPC) meeting in Lifford on Friday, Councillor Donal Coyle condemned the attacks as “an awful scandal on consecrated ground”.
“I am particularly annoyed at what was done in Raymochy Graveyard, as a lot of bother had gone into getting funding and the work done, and then the information board was totally destroyed.”
Garda Chief Superintendent Goretti Sheridan confirmed that both incidents remained under investigation.
But she added that one suspect has been identified for one of the incidents.
“The person is vulnerable to a point but it will be investigated,” she confirmed.
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