Kilkenny gardai hunt crime gang targeting schools and GAA clubs

By COLIN BARTLEY

SCHOOLS and GAA clubs in and around Kilkenny are being targeted by thieves on the lookout for high ticket maintenance and gardening equipment, gardai have warned.

KilkennyNow.ie has learned more than €25,000 worth of pitch maintenance equipment has been stolen from organisations near the Kilkenny border over the past two weeks.

Kilkenny gardai are investigating the possibility the thefts are linked.

A club near Graiguenamangh was targeted last week, and nearly €1,000 worth of goods taken.

The St Mullins GAA grounds, on the Kilkenny Carlow border, was broken into sometime between Monday, August 19 and Wednesday, August 21. The thieves made off with a power strimmer worth nearly €500 and fuel worth over €350.

Gardai in Graiguenamanagh are investigating the theft.

Meanwhile, thieves also targeted a national school on the Kilkenny-Tipperary border last week before making off with a ride-on lawnmower worth thousands of euros.

The distinctive John Deere Z930M, worth up to €7,000, was stolen from the grounds of Kilvemnon National School overnight between Thursday, August 22 and Friday, August 23.

Just a few kilometres away in Tipperary, an €18,000 Kubota ride-on lawnmower was stolen from Kilsheelan GAA club between the Friday, August 16 and Friday, August 23.

A Garda spokesperson told KilkennyNow.ie: “We ask organisations with high-end and high-ticket machinery to be very vigilant, and make sure their equipment is stored securely.”