Roscommon in shock at Dublin suppporters violent frenzy following National Football League defeat.
Dublin lost the National Football League quarter-final to Mayo by one point at Dr Hyde Park in Roscommon on 5 April 1981. The defeat sparked a weekend of football hooliganism in Roscommon town. The destruction, which began on Friday night, left many visible signs of malicious damage. A trail of broken windows, scores of premises daubed with slogans and the charred remains of a Roscommon County Council caravan set on fire.
Most of the incidents occurred on Saturday night as the Dubs began to arrive in town for the match. Among the windows smashed was Garrahan's main shop window in Church Street. On Sunday morning, ten cameras, valued at £300, were stolen from Guerin's chemist shop.
Ratepayers and business owners will be footing the bill, estimated at several hundred pounds. They are particularly annoyed as this is the second time in six weeks that Dublin supporters have gone on the rampage in the town. The Roscommon Chamber of Commerce is adamant that such vandalism will never be tolerated again.
During the weekend, Gardaí made 24 arrests in connection with the malicious acts. A number of people are scheduled to appear at Roscommon Court in mid April on charges ranging from car thefts to drunkenness. A spokesperson said,
It was regrettable that about 150 of the three to four thousand Dublin supporters who had travelled to Roscommon to see the National League quarter final had got out of hand.
Roscommon Teachta Dála Terry Leyden called on the Dublin Gaelic Athletic Association board to issue a clear statement disassociating itself from the activities of those engaged in the weekend violence. Vandals masquerading as football fans had done an enormous amount of destruction and both the GAA and Córas Iompair Éireann would have to take steps to ensure that it could never happen again.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 6 April 1981. The reporter is Jim Fahy.
