GARDAÍ IN COOLOCK are investigating a burglary at a primary school in Darndale in the early hours of this morning.
The incident took place at about 2.30am at Our Lady Immaculate Junior School. CCTV footage is currently being reviewed by investigating officers.
Twenty laptops were stolen from the premises and a number of offices were damaged.
The school’s Board of Management and Principal wrote to parents today, hoping to gather information about the crime.
Chairperson of the Board, Noel Kelly, and Principal Breda Murray said there was a “real disappointment and shock” throughout the whole community following the event.
They noted that the “greatest loss” is the “teachers’ and children’s work which was stored on the 20 laptops”.
Years of photographs recording events, outings, celebrations and concerts etc have all been taken.
“These are irreplaceable and yet the most valuable record of all pupils that have attended our school.”
Kelly and Murray appealed for parents to come forward with any information that could lead to “some or all of the computers being returned undamaged”.
They also noted that the school’s whiteboards require the laptaps in order to work correctly.
“We appreciate the huge volume of concern and support we have received today from parents and the wider community,” they wrote.
“It is a testament to the regard and respect that we have for each other.
“Our greatest concern is that the children don’t lose out because of the behaviour of those who broke into the school. Our school is a happy, safe and secure environment and we ask for your support in keeping it this way.”
About 22 staff members cater for 240 pupils, aged between four and eight years old, in the Dublin junior school.
One mother told TheJournal.ie that her son is autistic and a visual learner so relies on the laptops and whiteboards greatly.
“It’s really a devastating loss to the children of our community, a loss to their education,” she said. “It’s a disgrace that this happened.”
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