Pub smash, vandals in probes for Port police

By Michelle Herbison
POLICE are investigating a series of vandalism incidents at Portarling-ton.
Portarlington police Sergeant Michael Knight said a group of vandals damaged the town’s primary school on the weekend of July 21 and 22.
“They punched a hole in a shelter shed and they also set two bins on fire in the school. They smashed the pumps of the timers to the sewerage in the school,” Sgt Knight said.
Police were yet to lay charges but had names of teenage suspects, he said.
“The enquiries are ongoing and we’re looking into it.”
Sgt Knight said police were also investigating other damage from vandalism in the area.
Last week Portarlington’s Grand Hotel suffered about $40,000 damage when a staff-member drove through its beer garden, Sgt Knight said.
Witnesses reported that the man, a kitchen hand in his 40s, had a verbal dispute before driving from the hotel’s rear car park and through its beer garden then into a tree.
“It destroyed a marquee and the garden furniture and barricades. It was a miracle no one was killed or seriously injured,” Sgt Knight said.
“One witness was hit by the mirror or the car as it went past but he didn’t require medical treatment.”
The man was taken to hospital with minor injuries and released this week.
Police were awaiting results from hospital blood tests to determine whether he was under the influence of alcohol.
Sgt Knight said police were preparing to question the man when the Independent went to press.
The Grand Hotel owners declined to comment.