PHOTOS: Vandals Throw Red Paint Over Royal Munster Fusiliers Monument In Ballymullen

The Royal Munster Fusiliers Monument in Ballymullen after it was vandalised. Photo by John Duggan of the RMF Association/RMF Facebook

THE front of the Royal Munster Fusiliers Monument at Ballymullen had red paint smeared on it during the night in what one councillor described as a “disheartening” incident.

The monument, which was erected in May, pays tribute to The Royal Munster Fusiliers, who were stationed in Ballymullen barracks up until Irish independence.

Kerry County Council workers have removed the red paint from the monument and as of Monday at 2:30pm have covered the monument in preparation of work to remove any remaining paint from around it.

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Cllr Sam Locke has been a vocal supporter of the monument and has received threats to his personal safety for his involvement in trying to get more work done on it. He described the vandalism as “disheartening”.

“It’s a sad state of affairs that they can’t remember our dead in such away like that and respect the monument that we have erected,” said Cllr Locke.

“There is only a few people who are totally against it. The community in Ballymullen and in the town have approached me in a positive way,” he said.

Further works on the monument could now be put in jeopardy according to Cllr Locke. It had been proposed that two glass panels be erected at the monument with the names of local men and women who died in World War 1.

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“We’re going to have problems now convincing the executive to put up the panels. They’re probably going turn round now and say ‘listen if we’re having problems with the monument that’s there at the moment, is it going to be problematic for us if we erect the glass panels?’,” said Cllr Locke.

“I’ll have to argue against that because I won’t give in to any individuals or any organisation that have a set agenda on destroying the monument,” he said.

In October, speaking to TraleeToday.ie, Cllr Locke said he took the threats to his safety with a pinch of salt and didn’t want to give any further credence to any individuals on the matter.

A Garda investigation is currently underway and they are asking if anybody has information about the incident or saw anything suspicious in the Ballymullen area either late last night or early this morning to contact Tralee Garda station on 066-7102300.

The monument after Kerry County Council removed the red paint from its face. Photo by Kerry County Council.

The monument after it had been covered up by Kerry County Council. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.