Vandals cause damage to Christmas Crib in Newbridge

Photos: Pat Tinsley

Vandals smashed parts of a Nativity Crib and broke a statue of the baby Jesus in Newbridge town early on Wednesday morning last.

It's understood three men were captured on CCTV jumping on the crib before breaking its window and removing the statue outside the Town Hall at around 5.10am on Wednesday.

The Crib was organised by a Committee and was unveiled and blessed two weeks ago.

Local Primary School pupils contributed artwork which was displayed in the Crib.

Gardaí have confirmed they have identified three suspects and that a file will be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

“Between 4.30 and 5am on December 13th on Main Street, Newbridge, three people in their mid to late 20s smashed the window of the crib and damaged one of the statues,” a Garda spokesman said.

“They were encountered  by gardaí on patrol and their details were taken. A file will be prepared and sent to the DPP”.

The incident is being treated as suspected criminal damage.