A building leased to Dundee Museum of Transport has reportedly been vandalised amid a year-long legal battle over access.
Police are investigating the allegations surrounding the former Langlands and McAinsh building on the Seagate, which had been at the centre of a dispute between the current museum board and former chairman Jimmy McDonnell.
Mr McDonnell, who founded the museum, claimed to have been ousted from the charity’s board in a “coup d’etat” last year before a lengthy conflict ensued between him and the current board over access to the building.
Current chairman John Letford finally gained entry this week but said he was horrified to discover the office space, which is rented from a private business, had been “trashed”.
He said the “vandalism” at the former Langlands & McAinsh building was a disgraceful attack on the group’s premises.
“It is quite ironic following legal representation enabling us today to re-enter the building that we have been locked out of for almost a year, to find it has been desecrated.
“The building was also previously broken into, preventing us from accessing our part of the building.”
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He said the museum team had previously come under verbal attack but members were determined to stand strong and fight for their plans.
“We have for some time now been maligned regularly on social media by sick people,” he added.
“We are not going anywhere.”
The space, for which the museum is given business rates relief, also houses the organisation’s storage vehicles.
The museum, currently operating out of a temporary rented building at Market Mews, recently experienced a major setback in its ambitious plans to renovate the former Maryfield Tram Depot.
The charity’s application for £2.4 million worth of funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund was rejected, leaving the board no choice but to put the plans on the back burner.
The building, acquired in 2014, is reportedly becoming increasingly dilapidated due to the delays in renovation.
Mr McDonnell has been approached for comment in regards to the dispute over access to the building.
A spokesperson for the Tayside division of Police Scotland said: “We have been made aware of the incident and are investigating.”
