Testing centre break-in 'lowest of the low'

Three laptops and three phones were taken from Athlone's pop-up Covid-19 testing centre last week in an incident dubbed "the lowest of the low" by local Cllr Aengus O'Rourke.

Reported on Friday last, the break-in may have occurred in the days prior to this as the facility on the site of the former St Aloysius school only operates on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Cllr Aengus O'Rourke, who said he was "absolutely disgusted" by what happened, praised the staff who dealt with the results of this "awful crime".

"The staff have done an amazing job to reopen the centre. Albeit, they are doing everything by hand they are determined to keep the centre open," he said in tribute in a social media post on Friday, appealing to anyone who has information about the incident to come forward and tell gardaí in confidence.

A window was broken on the site during the incident.

Anyone who has any information should call Athlone Garda Station 09064 98550.