Two teenagers have been charged in connection with the destruction of a colourful cow artwork in Dunfermline Public Park earlier this month.
Police said the youths had been reported to the Children’s Reporter after damage to one of the public art sculptures was discovered on Friday October 4.
The cows had been installed there as part of the Herd of the Hill project earlier this year. Local artists Vanessa Gibson and Olga Krasanova helped school pupils decorate a number of sculptures before they were sprayed with anti-graffiti lacquer.
They were relocated to the Public Park after a stint at Dunfermline Carnegie Library and Galleries.
Vandals targeted the artworks within a matter of days in July, prompted organisers to make a decision to move them to a safer space at the town’s the Fire Station Creative centre.
However, while they were awaiting transport, one of the cows was uprooted, split in half and beheaded.
Jim Stewart, chairman of the Central Dunfermline Community Council, said: “The ears were broken off the very first day the cows were installed and we planned to have her repaired and relocated.
“The park cows were much loved by families and children visiting the new play park – and now they are gone.
“It’s difficult to imagine what drives teenagers to vandalism. Maybe Dunfermline just isn’t allowed to have nice new things.”
One of the cows had already been moved and it will join a calf sculpture in the patio area of Fire Station Creative.
Additional cows have also been ordered and they will take up residency in the Carnegie Library and Galleries garden.
Mr Stewart said: “Next year, we hope to replace the cows in the Public Park with another project that will have as much appeal, and we already have a few ideas in mind.”
Members of the public have condemned the culprits and said they hoped the cows at the Fire Station Creative will be left untouched.
Local mum Claire Moore said: “We had seen this and went up to pick the cow back up but then realised it had its head all smashed up so there was not much we could do.”
