Gardai investigating arson attack at sports ground in Tullamore

GARDAI are investigating a serious incident in the grounds of Dr Kelly's Sportslink facility on Arden Road, Tullamore.

In the early hours of last Thursday morning, August 7, a ground cabinet on a Phoenix Tower International phone mast was set alight. These cabinets normally contain computers used to communicate with other masts in the network.

Gardai say they attended the scene following a report shortly before 2am when the structure was on fire.

Chair of Tullamore Sportslink, Tommy McKeigue said this is the second time it's happened.

''Whoever did it cut all the wires and set the box on fire. It happened before, just after Christmas when the mast had just gone in. Whoever did it was lucky the wires weren't live, they could have been electrocuted. It's not connected yet. The Guards are looking at CCTV footage now. It hasn't affected the grounds, they are still in use.''

Sports Link is a development of playing pitches and walking track put in place by Tullamore Camogie Club, Tullamore Ladies Football and Tullamore GAA, along with the Municipal District of the County Council.

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Just recently Tommy McKeigue told the Tribune, ''we are on a good footing there, everything is nearly paid off. We have two playing pitches up and going and another small training area. We can do a bit more with the walkway to encourage more locals to walk there and probably put in a few exercise stations. It's a community effort and a community pitch so we are going to try to keep it that way.''