Gardaí have launched a witness appeal after criminal damage was inflicted on a number of old gravestones at a burial site in Co Wexford.
Some of the damaged stones date back to the 17th century.
A Garda spokesperson said that the investigation relates to damage caused to a number of grave headstones and a stone wall at Monachán Graveyard, Taghmon, Co. Wexford between 20 April 2026 and 27 July 2026.
Aontú councillor Jim Codd called the damage “absolutely shocking”, saying that it has resulted in “Tombs smashed up, granite plinths around certain graves pulled out, a cast iron Celtic cross smashed off a wall and various tombstones broken in pieces, if not pulled out of their place.”
Speaking to Gript, he said that “in excess of 18 gravestones” had been “damaged” and that both Catholics and Protestants are buried with some stones dated back to the 1730s “or earlier”.
“They have erased, broken up the history of our village: it’s absolutely sick and beyond belief,” he said.
“It’s not the work of small children,” he said, adding, “there are huge granite plinths that have been pulled out,” which he said was “nothing short of the use of a crowbar” and that “a number of men would be needed to do it.”
“I’ve never actually seen anything like it in my life,” he said, adding, “a cast iron cross that stood there for hundreds of years was pulled out of the ground and smashed off a wall.”
“These graves have stood unmolested for centuries,” he added.
Speaking on Morning Ireland, he described the incident as an”attack on our history and culture”, adding: “I can’t even imagine why somebody would want to undertake such mindless destruction and desecration of our Christian heritage.”
He described “ancient crosses” being “pulled up and strewn around”.
“Even the walls on the way into the graveyard – the stones are pulled out of them and thrown around,” he added.
He described outrage among locals, saying, “They’re heartbroken.”
“You have stones here from the 18th, 17th, and possibly earlier centuries… this history cannot be replaced,” he added.
“This is a destruction of our very culture and a wonderful graveyard where both Catholic and Protestant were laid to rest side by side.”
“It’s very personal to the community there, local volunteers taking care of the graveyard to maintain the history, and then this happens,” he said.
Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed any suspicious or unusual activity in the area during this time period to come forward.
Gardaí are also seeking road users, residents and businesses who may have relevant CCTV, dashcam or other video footage from the area to make that footage available to the investigating Gardaí.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Wexford Garda Station on 053 916 5200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.
Mr Codd said that this is not the first time that the graveyard has been damaged and called for a stronger Garda presence in rural areas.
“This graveyard is in the middle of the village of Taghmon, and we have two fantastic gardaí, but they’re being pulled away to Rosslare or into Wexford town, and they get to spend less and less time where they’re posted,” he said.
“This is the case across the country since 2011; 140 garda stations have closed, and one in 10 rural garda stations don’t have a presence, so we don’t have gardaí there,” he added.
