Rare tomb damaged by vandals

Evening Herald, September 1981

One of Ireland's major megalithic mounds has been desecrated in the last week by vandals wielding sledge hammers and pick-axes. A sill stone vital to the solar construction of Loughcrew Cairn T, a megalithic passage mound near Kells, Co. Meath has been dislodged and toppled and left lying on the chamber floor. A casual visitor discovered the damage and the Board of Works was notified during the week.

Surveying the damaged sill stone yesterday Mr Martin Brennan, writer and megalithic art researcher said that this is "probably one of the most serious attacks on our National Monuments ever."

"These structures are amongst the oldest buildings in the world and the situation demands immediate re-evaluation and investigation. The whole question of protecting our monuments has to be reviewed," Mr. Brennan said.