Hooligans wreck bonfire charity bid
Tuesday 17th November 2009, 2:59PM GMT.
Organiser Lester Richardson at the bonfire site. Picture: MATTHEW HOTTON (00834615)
VANDALS who set fire to a charity bonfire in St Martin last night should be made to look the wounded soldiers in the face who were to receive the money raised from the event, the organiser said today.
Lester Richardson said that he was not sure whether the event would now go ahead at all.
Firefighters were called to the field in St Martin opposite the public hall shortly before midnight after someone set fire to the huge pile of wood.
It has been there for a couple of weeks now because the bad weather has caused the postponement – twice – of the bonfire and fireworks display.
The bonfire party, at Rue de la Croix au Maître, was due to be held on 5 December. It was expected to raise £5,000 for the charity Holidays for Heroes, which pays for wounded ex-servicemen and women to come to the Island on holiday.
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Despicable! these yobs have no thought that the service personnel are fighting on their behalf. They should be found and punished asap.
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These scum dont care and neither do our politicians or law makers !!
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Why are we constantly surprised at the mindless actions of a few morons!!!
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If you know who did this call the Cops! The idiot/s who did this are a disgrace……
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Community spirit idea not reaching these types..? well I wonder if stupid regs and political correctness,,had anything to do with it…..Oh No don’t say a clip round the ear when young could have prevented such…Nah a whole industry of do gooding tossers swings into action aided and abetted by a string of civil servants and lawyers……………BOOT CAMP
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Lloyd George said he wanted to see a Britain after the war that was a land fit for heroes.
As a society, we are blessed with heroes, sung of and unsung that would make any other nation proud.
But until we can show, tell and teach the youth of today that the freedoms they take for granted are hard won, not just in the past, but every minute of every day, then it will never be so.
Be proud of our heroes and thank God for the balance of humanity and humility they bring us over the scum that can only destroy.
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truthseeker #5
Agreed , BUT
Boot camp even as a last resort, with our human rights way of doing things will be a doddle to the hardened.
All “these types” ( nice to see you are not making an assumption that it was a particular age group )will do at an institution like boot camp will be to sit down and say F*** **f to the wardens. Without sanctions such as legally applied, regulated, corporal punishment to enforce the boot camp disapline what are they to do, withdraw their sweety ration?
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Yet more people raised with no idea about respecting others!
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Disgusting. The perpetrators should be held to account for their actions.
A friends brother is currently fighting for his life after loosing both legs in Afghanistan, and charities such as Help for Heroes will no doubt be supporting him through the coming months and years, much as they do with countless others.
If I were a parent of one of these yobs I would have every one of my child’s prized possesions up on Ebay and all pocket money for the foreseeable future donated to charity, which may go at least some way to making up for the loss they’ve caused.
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What was the point of calling out the fire service??!
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I don’t know why people are suprised about this, if you leave a pile of wood for weeks on end sooner or later someone is going to set fire to it.
Very sad about the loss of money to the charity though.
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Just because the bonfire has gone doesn’t mean that people cannot still give money. The parish can either publicise a “post vandalism” appeal {which I am sure will be well supported] or could organise another event. It could be another bonfire, but it doesn’t have to be. How about a christmas event?
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why is it that st.martians have lots of vandalism for example the battle of flowers float was vandalised and now the bonfire has been set light!which i thinik happend last year is well!!!
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Surely there’s enough wood and clean burning rubbish around to rebuild the bonfire in time for a December event?
Penny, the unlit bonfire was still someone’s property regardless of its destiny to be burnt – it was up to the owner to decide when it was to be lit, not some vandal. The owners have been deprived of the use of the their belongings. It was arson, and the Fire Service had a duty to put it out and rescue the situation as much as possible.
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#9
Hear hear – best type of punishment. Make them live with their actions.
You have to be able to discipline them.
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I am not defending those responsible, but i do not believe that they had the intention of setting fire to the bonfire in order to cause damage to the charities coffers. boredom probably drove them not intent to hurt.
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To No9. Bex
I think their parents are too busy watching tv (or doing goodness know what) to care or pay attention to what their children are up to, hence this situation. And please no holding more than 1 job excuse. Children are the parents’ responsibility. You should not have any if you cannot handle or shoulder the responsibility.
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Sad but predictable maybe the state schooling system needs to be enhanced.
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Isn’t is ironic, that the only dry evening for the last two weeks or so, was 5th November.!! Why can’t we have bonfire night on the correct date?., Our family and neighboutrs were delighted it stopped raining just in time for bonfire night, whilst others were planning for events at the weekend that never happen.
Sorry to hear about the vandalism, but next year please have bonfire night when its meant to be, and people will turn up regardless of the weather
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Disgrace.
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HasBean 6.
An excellent post.
Your words express my sentiments perfectly.
Jonathan 12.
You’re quite right, a “post vandalism” appeal nearer Christmas would probably be even better supported than the planned event.
People are always happy to support our heroes and we’re all that little bit more generous during the festive season.
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#16 I do agree with that, I suspect they were probably a bit too unintelligent to even consider that anyone COULD get hurt.
Still, boredom is NOT an excuse and it’s a shame that anyone lets children trot that one out. If boredom was a reason to commit crimes then why do so many Jersey children not do so? My island back home doesn’t have football pitches, a cinema, or any youth activities for that matter but the children don’t resort to crime. It’s poor parenting (or possibly nastiness), one or the other, but not boredom.
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Why does everyone assume it was children?
There is no evidence as far as I know that it was children that commited this heinous crime.
People are very quick to point the finger, but it is just as likely that it was grown ups that may have had too much to drink and too little sense.
Or perhaps all those expressing such strong opinions about when bonfire night should be…?
Now I am not accusing any particular group by I think it is sad and presumtious to just assume it was children.
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‘There is no evidence as far as I know that it was children that commited this heinous crime.’
It was a nasty act of vandalism but it is hardly a heinous crime.
A read through the more obscure sections of any good newspaper will reveal acts of appalling babarity on a huge scale.
Check out the career of the late President Idi Amin of Uganda for truely heinous crimes.
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#23 I guess the language used in the article implies it. You read the paper enough you get to know what terms they generally use to describe certain demographics. But with no eyewitnesses you’re right. Still, statistically these types of crimes are more usually committed by children.
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