Outrage as vandals smash bottles on football pitch

The intermediate pitch at Mossley Pavilion was targeted by anti-social youths, who smashed bottles at the sports facility on Monday night.

Condemning the incident, Cllr Stephen Ross said: “This latest incident is dangerous for the local community. These type of incidents have been ongoing in the area for some time, although I understand that it had recently been quiet.

“The people who are doing this need to realise that they are harming their own community, as people may get injured now as a result of glass being on the pitch.

“It is also a drain on council resources, with staff now having to come and clean-up the area.”

The DUP representative added: “I would ask parents and guardians to engage with their young people and urge them not to get involved in anti-social activities like this.

“A joint approach is needed to help tackle the anti-social issues in the region.”

Local residents have taken to social media to voice their concerns following the incident. Commenting on Facebook, one person said: “This happens every weekend. We have to be very careful when we are walking our dogs in the area after the kids are up there drinking and throwing their bottles onto the pitch or long grass where you can’t see the glass.”

Commenting on the incident, a spokesperson for Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council said: “Council are aware of the incident on Monday evening at Mossley Pavilion. Bottles were broken on the pitch and these were cleared up the next morning. Council continues to manage this behaviour through on-site staff and Park Wardens on an ongoing basis with incidents reported to the PSNI.

“In addition, Antrim and Newtownabbey PCSP deliver a number of programmes across the borough to engage with young people in an attempt to minimise anti-social behaviour.”