Three windows at the local Fianna Fáil TD and Minister’s High Street office were damaged in the early hours of Monday morning after rocks were thrown through them and the word ‘traitors’ was scrawled across the front of the premises in red aerosol paint. The vandalism and grafitti occurred at 3.24am and a male, who was wearing a dark jacket, jeans and white trainers, was captured in the act on CCTV. No figure has yet been established on the cost of the damage.
Gardai are carrying out door-to-door enquiries in the area and are also viewing CCTV cameras from other premises locally. A technical examination has been carried out by the Divisional Scenes of Crime Unit from Navan. This is the second time the minister’s premises has been targeted in the past two weeks. In the early hours of the Monday 9th November, a window at the front of Mr Dempsey’s office was smashed. On that occasion, a male wearing a dark hoodie with white stripe and a white emblem on the front and back, grey tracksuit bottoms and white runners was captured on CCTV.
Gardai are investigating whether the two incidents are linked and if the same culprit is responsible. They have appealed for anyone who noticed anything suspicious in the High Street area in the early hours of Monday morning to contact them at Trim Garda Station on (046) 943 1222. A brief statement issued Tuesday afternoon by Mr Dempsey’s office said: “This is a local office for local people and Minister Dempsey will continue to serve local people undeterred. This was an attack on the decent local people who have loyally supported him over the years. The Gardai are investigating this act of vandalism.”
Fine Gael Meath County Councillor William Carey has condemned the attack on Mr Dempsey’s office. He said: “I condemn it out of hand. It is an act of vandalism against a democratically elected person. It is anarchy creeping in. I hope the culprit is found.” He added that the people would have the chance to deal with the minister in the general election, but that this incident was “vandalism, leading to anarchy”.