Vandals responsible can't be allowed to win - councillors

The iconic bronze peace monument, which was unveiled by Senator George Mitchell at Aghalane Bridge a number of years ago and which was recently vandalised and ripped from its plinth, is now to be restored at a cost of approximately €10,000.
Elected members of the Belturbet Cavan Municipal Authority were unanimous in their approval to area manager, Derry Scanlon, to put the monument back in its rightful place beside the Bridge in close proximity to the former troubled border crossing.
The councillors were strongly of the view that the thugs responsible could not be allowed to win.
The Aghalane bridge, over Woodford river, was blown up in 1972 and was re-built in 1999. The statue was added as a symbol of rebuilding relationships and reconciliation. It was damaged in early August of this year.
The restoration project was proposed by Cllr Sean Smith (FF) and seconded by Cllr Peter McVitty (FG) with the full support of all members.
It was stipulated that additional measures be taken to ensure barriers of some form would form part of the restoration works, to make it much more difficult for a repeat of this wanton destruction.
Mr Scanlon had outlined a number of options available such as putting the monument at different location such as the Cavan County Museum or on the near-by roundabout.
He also said that a third option could be to put a fibre glass version of the monument back in place, which would not have any scrap value. The cost of replacing it, as was, is in the region of €10,000, the councillors were informed.
Cllr McVitty said that any other decision would suggest that “you are giving in to these people – we have to stand up to these people”.
Cllr Smith clearly recall the day it was unveiled. “It was a historic day for this island and Senator George Mitchell, that great American politician, was present for the unveiling.
“It should be restored and we yearned for many decades for that great occasion to arrive. It must go out strongly from this meeting that we condemn that horrific act. We don’t know why they did it – it was barbaric to even contemplate it and interfere with that very precious monument,” she said.
The chairman Cllr Damian Brady (SF) said he attended a Brexit protest at Aghalane Bridge the previous Saturday and everyone in attendance was “disgusted” at what had happened to the monument and the vandalism that took place.
“Not alone did they try and steal the monument but they also damaged the plinth to such an extent that it will take a considerable amount of money to restore it,” he remarked.
“I agree that it should be put back in place and measures should be taken to stop such an act happening again. We can’t let them win by not putting it back”, added Cllr Brady.