Public loo at town park is being vandalised after hours

CRIMINAL damage is the reason visitors to Carlow Town Park are unable to access the public toilet located within the park grounds.

The Nationalist recently highlighted the concerns of a local mother who, despite having paid the 50 cents required to use the facility, was unable to gain access for herself and her young daughter. 

The woman reported that the occupied sign was displayed, but no-one appeared to be inside. "I knocked and there was no answer so I put my money in, but nothing happened. The door didn’t open and I didn’t get my money back,” said the woman.

Significant investment has been made to the park in recent months with the development of a new playground which is being praised for its inclusivity. A new outdoor workout area was also recently unveiled at the park. However, gardaí say incidents of vandalism and anti-social behaviour are resulting in the public toilet facility being regularly out of service.

Superintendent Anthony Farrell told The Nationalist that “isolated incidents of anti-social behaviour, especially around the toilet unit in Carlow Town Park, are causing damage to functional use of the unit.” Supt Farrell said that the gardaí are working with the local authority to resolve the situation. Barry Knowles, senior executive engineer with Carlow County Council, confirmed they are working with the gardaí and are also reviewing the issue with the service provider. Mr Knowles says his office is also investigating funding streams to try to implement an alternative type of public toilet at the popular local amenity.

Supt Farrell said that incidents of criminal damage appear to be happening after hours. “Indications are, this anti-social behaviour is taking place outside town park opening hours, albeit there has been no report to gardaí in real time of these occurrences,” he said.

Anyone with information to help resolve these incidents is asked to contact Carlow Garda Station on 053 9136620.