'Vandalism and thuggery'- General Election candidate's window smashed while family slept

A rock was thrown through the front window of the private residence of a general election candidate.

Independent Bill Clear unsuccessfully sought a seat in the Kildare North constituency last weekend.

A lifebuoy was thrown into the canal

The damage was caused overnight on December 2-3 at the family home of the politician, who is married with two children, at Oldtown, just off Sallins Road, Naas.

It is not clear if the house was specifically targeted because of his role as a politician since the damage coincided with a number of incidents of vandalism along the Grand Canal around the same time.

However Cllr Clear believes he was deliberately targeted.

Cllr Clear with wife Annmarie and sons Michael and Patrick

These included the throwing of a lifebuoy into the water and damage to a sign.

 “Someone rampaged down the canal and then onto my house. They threw a rock through my window while we were sleeping. Vandalism and thuggery are the only word to describe this,” he said.”

A damaged sign near the canal

He added: “I have to ask myself if it is worth it.”

He is asking anyone who saw anything unusual on the Sallins Road from midnight until 6am on those dates to report it.