Christmas Reindeer Decoration Restored Following Vandalism

A festive reindeer ornament in the heart of Londonderry has been restored following an act of vandalism. Derry City and Strabane District Council stated that the reindeer, one of a pair located in Guildhall Square, had been targeted, marking it as the most recent in “a number of incidents of vandalism in recent weeks.” The council confirmed that the decoration has been repaired and is once again on display, adding that any individual apprehended for vandalising the city centre’s festive displays would be “held responsible.” This incident marks the fourth consecutive year that the decorations in the centre of Londonderry have been subjected to vandalism. “Damaging these ornaments comes at a cost to everyone—not to mention the serious risk of injury—and those who engage in this kind of anti-social behaviour will be caught and will be held responsible,” said a council spokesperson. “While the reindeer has now been repaired, we want to ensure the city centre looks its best as we approach Christmas, so we would really appreciate everyone’s cooperation over the coming days.” In the preceding year, vandals partially removed baubles from a large Christmas tree in Guildhall Square, and in earlier years, the local council reported that the decorations in Derry were being targeted “on daily basis.” BBC News NI has contacted the Police Service of Northern Ireland to ascertain if they are investigating these recent occurrences. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.