Three arrests after graffiti attack on park named after a Galashiels lad

On Tuesday morning shocked parents and their children found graffiti and images scrawled on eight panels at the Rowan Boland playpark, located within the town’s public park.

The playpark is designed for infant and primary age children and at least one of the images depicted was phallic in nature.

Mum-of-three Lauren Jamieson encountered the damage while out with her children, Quinn, three, Nell, six, and Mac, seven.

She took matters into her own hands by carrying out a clean-up with the support of family and friends.

As a result of numerous enquiries, two boys, aged 13 and 14, and an 18-year-old woman have now been charged in connection with the matter.

The boys will be reported to the Youth Justice Management Unit, and the woman will be reported to the Procurator Fiscal.

Sergeant David Rourke said: “The vandalism rightly caused concern within the local area and I’d like to thank members of the public for coming together, not only to assist our enquiries but to clean up the damage as a community.”

The £290,000 playpark opened in May 2018 and was named as a tribute to a nine-year-old Galashiels lad who died while playing cricket in 2010.

A trust was also set up in Rowan’s memory and it has raised much-needed funds for many young athletes over the years.