THE minister of Holy Trinity Church of Ireland parish church,
Lisnaskea, has issued a ‘come and meet’ me invitation to vandals who,
last week stoned a leaded glass window in his recently restored church,
and chalked lewd graffiti on the driveway at the front entrance.The chalked ‘message’ read: “Ugly black bastards. Up the RA”.
Reverend Alan Capper, speaking to the Herald after Sunday service, said it was the second time in a fortnight that the church – refurbished last year at a cost of £640,000 – had been attacked. On that occasion, another leaded glass window, since replaced, was smashed.
Prior to its rededication last year, Holy Trinity was the regular target for vandals and, last year, a car belonging to the church caretaker sustained £1,000 of damage when a 6” breeze block was hurled at it.
The man, who asked not to be named, said he had asked six young fellows who were playing football on church grounds to leave.
“They refused to move and said they would put me out before I would put them out. They would not let me back near the car and threw a 6’ concrete block at it while I was cutting the grass.”
He said he had to pay out £200 from his own pocket by way of excess on his car insurance.
The church backs on to Trasna Way housing estate where, in the past, the culprits are believed to have come from.
However, Rev Capper insisted that these incidents were not a ‘Protestant-Catholic thing’.
“Trasna Way is a mixed estate anyway”, he said. “But, I would like to involve the people who are doing this and try to help them rather than ostracising them.
“Obviously, we’re talking to the community police about this, but if the church and the community can come together and work together, because we are all part of Lisnaskea society.”
He went on: “I am open to ideas. That is why I am saying this. I suppose where I am coming from is to help people identify with Lisnaskea and to make them realise when they’re damaging something in Lisnaskea, they’re damaging themselves.”
Meanwhile, police in Lisnaskea are appealing for information about the attack on Holy Trinity Church.
A spokesman said that, shortly after 9.50 on Wednesday night last, 22 May, officers received a report that a window had been broken in the church and that lewd graffiti had been written in chalk on the driveway.
“We would ask anyone who may have noticed any suspicious activity in the area or who has any information to contact us at Lisnaskea on 0845 600 8000.