BY RAY SANDERSON

Mindless vandals wiped out an important part of St Michael's Scouts history at the weekend when they set fire to a container at the rear of the building at Mill Street in Enniskillen.

Over £10,000 of damage was caused when the vandals during the attack on the Scout Hall early on Saturday morning.

The malicious fire has left the Enniskillen Scout group with little or no equipment just weeks before they are due to head to the biggest international scout Jamboree in years at Punchestown in Kildare.

They were able to salvage a little of the equipment from the blaze, but much of it was burned and will not be able to be used again.

County Commissioner Tony Smyth was called to the scene at 7.00 am on Saturday morning.

By this time the large container had been broken into and gutted by the fire.

"We had packed much of the items away in readiness for the Jamboree in early August. Some of our leaders are in Croatia on an expedition, so it was logical to have all this ready for when they came back," he said.

The equipment included Icelandic tents, fly sheets, ground sheets, new unused tables, gas cookers, pots, pans and cutlery and container boxes.

Frank O'Reilly, Group Scout Leader, explained, "As well as that we've lost much of the unit's memorabilia including bugles, flags, posters, all of which was coming with us to the Jamboree."

Posters and models depicting Cúchulainn and Fionn MacCumhaill which they had spent hours making were also ruined.

"Over 100 of us had been working on those for three months to show at the Jamboree. All that stuff was in there and it is irreplaceable."

"Part of our history has been lost in this malicious fire, but more than that, much damage has been done to scout morale here.

"But we're a resilient group. Many were here this morning cleaning up. Many people had put so much work into getting ready for this Jamboree and it is a big blow to them. But they will bounce back.

"We've been here for 12 years now and this is the first major incident of any kind," he added.

"We're not going to let this beat us," said Frank. "Groups from all over Ireland have been telephoning to offer us help and equipment. We'll take it on a loan basis. After that we will have to fund raise to buy new equipment again."

Over the next two weeks the Scouts have their hall hired out to Mencap. Much of their equipment was taken from the hall to store in the container for that purpose.

"It won't stop us. We'll be at the Jamboree and we do everything we can to restore our equipment," said Frank.

Police are treating a fire at the container as suspicious.

Police are appealing to anyone who was in the area and witnessed any unusual activity to contact them on 0845 600 8000. Information can also be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.