Three arrested for €400,000 worth of vandalism at OPW site near Castletown House
THREE PEOPLE HAVE been arrested in connection with vandalism worth an estimated €400,000 at an Office of Public Works (OPW) site used by staff at Castletown House last month.
The arrests were made this morning following a search operation conducted by gardaí at a number of homes in Celbridge, Co Kildare, located close to Castletown House estate.
Two teenagers and a man in his 30s were detained by gardaí shortly after the search.
Gardaí say the arrests relate to several separate incidents of criminal damage that occurred between 22 April and 4 May at Donaghcumper House.
The property is used as a staging site for transporting OPW staff to nearby Castletown House, a historic estate at the centre of an 21-month controversy –
as residents have opposed the OPW's proposals to use a narrow pedestrian walkway for heavy vehicles
.
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Alamy Stock Photo
Alamy Stock Photo
Vehicles and facilities used by the OPW were targeted over the May Bank Holiday weekend at the site
.
Four OPW and contractor vehicles were overturned, allegedly using a teleporter which was later dumped in the River Liffey, while outbuildings and staff welfare units were set on fire and four CCTV towers were disabled after their wiring was cut.
OPW
OPW
Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW, Kevin 'Boxer' Moran, described it as 'shocking and unacceptable' in a statement last month.
Save Castletown Gate Protectors, a local group who have maintained a presence at the entrance to Castletown House in protest against the OPW for 18 months, similarly condemned the incident.
The estimated cost of the damage was in the region of €400,000.
The three are being held at garda stations in Kildare.
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The Journal
7 hours ago
- The Journal
Three arrested for €400,000 worth of vandalism at OPW site near Castletown House
THREE PEOPLE HAVE been arrested in connection with vandalism worth an estimated €400,000 at an Office of Public Works (OPW) site used by staff at Castletown House last month. The arrests were made this morning following a search operation conducted by gardaí at a number of homes in Celbridge, Co Kildare, located close to Castletown House estate. Two teenagers and a man in his 30s were detained by gardaí shortly after the search. Gardaí say the arrests relate to several separate incidents of criminal damage that occurred between 22 April and 4 May at Donaghcumper House. The property is used as a staging site for transporting OPW staff to nearby Castletown House, a historic estate at the centre of an 21-month controversy – as residents have opposed the OPW's proposals to use a narrow pedestrian walkway for heavy vehicles . Advertisement Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Vehicles and facilities used by the OPW were targeted over the May Bank Holiday weekend at the site . Four OPW and contractor vehicles were overturned, allegedly using a teleporter which was later dumped in the River Liffey, while outbuildings and staff welfare units were set on fire and four CCTV towers were disabled after their wiring was cut. OPW OPW Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW, Kevin 'Boxer' Moran, described it as 'shocking and unacceptable' in a statement last month. Save Castletown Gate Protectors, a local group who have maintained a presence at the entrance to Castletown House in protest against the OPW for 18 months, similarly condemned the incident. The estimated cost of the damage was in the region of €400,000. The three are being held at garda stations in Kildare. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Independent
7 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Three men arrested following €400,000 worth of damage at Castletown House in Co Kildare
They were arrested by gardaí attached to the Crime Hub in Kildare North following a search operation carried out this morning. The damage was caused to property during a number of separate incidents between April 22 and May 4 of this year. Property and vehicles belonging to the Office of Public Works (OPW) parked on the grounds were badly damaged, with several vehicles being turned over. CCTV cameras were also put out of action with wires cut. One adult in his 30s, and two juveniles are currently being detained at Garda stations in Kildare as investigations are ongoing. 'Gardaí attached to the Crime Hub, Kildare North have arrested three individuals this morning Friday, June 20 following a search operation that took place at a number of residential properties in Kildare,' a spokesperson for An Garda Síochána said. 'The three arrests relate to a number of separate incidents of criminal damage that was caused to property between the dates of April 22 to May 4. 'The estimated cost of the damage is believed to be in the region of €400,000. 'The three males, one adult male aged in his 30s and two juveniles, are currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at Garda stations in the Kildare Division.'
Irish Times
8 hours ago
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Three arrested over criminal damage at Castletown House
Gardaí have arrested a man and two juveniles in Kildare in connection with criminal damage at Castletown House. The three males were arrested on Friday morning by gardaí attached to Kildare North. The arrests took place following a search operation at a number of residential properties in Kildare. The three arrests relate to a number of separate incidents of criminal damage at Castletown House between April 22nd to May 4th, 2025 . READ MORE Over the May bank holiday weekend, vandals entered a temporary Office of Public Works (OPW) depot at Donaghcumper House, overlooking the river Liffey in Celbridge, Co Kildare . They first cut the wires to the house's CCTV units, then overturned four vehicles and dumped a cherrypicker into the river. 'The estimated cost of the damage is believed to be in the region of €400,000," a Garda spokesperson said on Friday. Donaghcumper House was bought by Kildare County Council earlier this year with a view to creating a linear park along the Liffey, but it was bolted up and out of bounds to the public last week, with security at the gate. The OPW was using it as a temporary depot in advance of the proposed reopening later this month of Castletown House, which has been at the centre of a major dispute over right-of-way access. The three males, one adult male aged in his 30s and two juveniles, are currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at Garda stations in Kildare.
