The bizarre and continued defacement of a road direction sign along the N72 outside Fermoy has irked local community activists and local authority officials, who are left scratching their heads after the sign was again a target for vandalism recently.

White paint was splashed across the sign in question, situated outside Castlehyde Cemetery between Fermoy and Ballyhooly – the third such act of vandalism in recent times.

Speaking to The Avondhu, Brendan O’Gorman, from Fermoy Municpal Authority, said the gardaí have been notified upon each event.

“On each occasion, these have been cleaned subsequently by our own operatives and on the last occasion we also engaged TII (Transport Infrastructure Ireland) signage contractors to effect a repair,” Mr O’Gorman added.

Former Fermoy town mayor, John Murphy was quick to condemn the defacement this week, which he said was a ‘mindful act of vandalism that has no place in our society’ and one that ‘brings down the appearance of the town of Fermoy and the wider area’.

Mr Murphy added: “I can’t understand why this particular sign is being targeted, but it’s a shame, especially because this is such a busy and important road as it’s the main route to Killarney. Such activity must be completely discouraged.”