THE vandals who desecrated York Minster have no respect for anything, least of all themselves.

This rather pathetic attention-seeking stunt has saddened a city rightly proud of its most beautiful and sacred building.

The slogans - "child abusers", "perverts" and, on the statue of Constantine, "vanity" - do not read like the work of bored children. Therefore someone older, someone who knows the sort of offence this desecration would cause, could well be the perpetrator. That is all the more deplorable.

If their choice of words was intended to suggest that there was a deeper, hidden message, then they will be disappointed. To consider it a protest would be to validate it. As the Dean of York rightly said today, there are ways to make a point and this is not one of them. This is a mindless crime, nothing more.

It is redolent of the vandalism of Clifford's Tower three and a half years ago. Then, yobs wielding spray cans caused damage costing thousands of pounds. That time, however, there was no attempt to disguise their stupidity as something more profound.

The Minster vandals have upset many people. The Dean, the congregation of this great cathedral, York residents and tourists have all been left angry and distressed.

Sadly, we have become accustomed to seeing graffiti on bridges and walls. But to see it on such a beautiful canvas still has the power to shock.

Fortunately, this incident will soon be no more than an unpleasant memory. Modern cleaning materials will ensure that this stain is quickly cleared away.

Meanwhile, police are watching footage from CCTV cameras stationed outside the Minster. We hope this will provide enough evidence to make a speedy arrest.

York Minster, 250 years in the building, is an awesome display of the creative genius of man. The vandals may one day realise that to deface it is a gesture as pitiful as it is futile.

Updated: 09:55 Monday, August 27, 2001