Needles and syringes are found!

Victoria McCarthy who has a 13-week-old baby made the gruesome discovery last Monday and has called on officials to ‘ripe out the garden and end her nightmare’.

She explained: “Last Monday evening my husband came home from work and saw something purple on our lawn. When he looked closure he realised it was a needle.

“The Chairman of the local community group, Patrick Frew and my husband Bryan then went across to the community park and discovered the lids to the needles as well as a plunger. Around the sametime my elderly next door neighbour also got a knock on his door from a lady saying her young daughter had just found a needle in the park to.

“I just couldn’t believe it. I have a young 13-week-old baby and my two nephews who are six and eighteen-month-old frequently call around to play in my garden - what would have happened if they had picked up the needle?”

Over the past few weeks Mrs McCarthy has contacted the police over anti-social behaviour from a group of youths hanging around the park, although there is no evidence that the two incidents are connected.

She continued: “I live right beside the Cloughmills Community Garden, near Toberdoney Well and have been having trouble with a handful of youths recently who have been shouting and throwing stones and sticks into my garden. I have contacted the police and some of their parents to see if we could get this stopped.

“We have since ensured that the park gate is locked at all times, however the youths just climb over. The police have made attempts to keep an eye on the park but once they arrive the youths just climb out over the back wall.

“There is no evidence to say the needles were from them or even if they were used but something really needs to be done about this. I feel the park has become over grown and is only used at Easter and Halloween - so why not ripe it out and end my nightmare.”

Mrs McCarthy has also contacted the Housing Executive who own the Community Garden land and the local police.

A spokesperson from the Housing Executive stated: “The Cloughmills Community Garden land is owned by the Housing Executive and held under license by the local community association. The garden is designed to provide a facility for the enjoyment of the village’s residents.

“The Housing Executive’s District Office received a report late on Friday regarding this problem and staff have been following this up with the PSNI this morning (Monday). We will continue to monitor the situation.”

Also responding to the concerns Patrick Frew, Chairman of the Community Action Team added: “A lot of man hours and effort have gone into the park and it is sad to see something like this happening. The garden is there for the local community to use and we have worked hard to build it up - we don’t want our efforts going to waste.

“The community group were asked to close the garden, which we have done however the youths are still going into the park and the police have been notified.

“I am obviously concerned about this and feel for the people who live next door, but it is now in the hands of the PSNI and hopefully the situations will be sorted out soon.”

A spokesperson from Ballymoney PSNI confirmed: “Police are aware of the incident and have carried out enquiries, however it is understood that the needles, which are thought to have used for prescriptions drugs, were disposed of irresponsibly.

“Police would urge members of the public to think seriously about how they dispose of such equipment and have urged them to speak to their local pharmacy about how to dispose of sharps safely. Police are continuing to monitor the area.”