A wheelchair-accessible public toilet with baby changing facilities in The Shambles, New Ross, was closed due to vandalism. The facility opened at the end of 2025 as part of a regeneration project and became a popular public space. On May 15, the toilet was shut while repairs were carried out and damaged items were replaced. The grab bar was broken off the wall, the baby changing unit snapped in half, and the electric hand dryer was knocked off. The local authority is awaiting delivery of replacement parts costing about €1,200, including paint and electrical work. Gardaí are investigating, with cameras nearby providing leads. The space remains accessible, but toilet facilities are affected until repairs are completed.
"The main public toilet in New Ross town that is wheelchair accessible and has baby changing facilities has been closed by the local authority as vandals have caused more than €1,200 worth of damage."
"The incident, which is the first incident of its kind in that particular space since it opened, involved the grab bar on the wall beside the accessible toilet being entirely broken off the wall, the baby changing unit snapped in half, and the electric hand dryer kicked off the wall."
"The local authority is awaiting the delivery of new parts for the facility, totalling a bill of approximately €1,200, which includes paint work and electrical work that also needs to be carried out."
"“Unfortunately, mindless vandalism such as this has no place here and we've reported it to the gardaí who are investigating,” Mr Fitzhenry said. Mr Fitzhenry confirmed the gardaí have “a number of leads” as there are cameras in operation on the nearby street."
Read at Irish Independent
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