Gardai appeal for witnesses following dangerous driving incident in Cherry Orchard last night

Shortly after 7:30pm yesterday evening, Gardaí responded to reports of dangerous driving in the Cherry Orchard area.

Upon arrival Gardaí say they observed two vehicles driving erratically.

“Both vehicles failed to stop when requested to do so by Gardaí and one vehicle collided with an official Garda vehicle,” a Garda spokesperson said.

“No injuries were reported during the incident.

“Gardaí are appealing to any member of the public who may have witnessed this incident to come forward.

“Gardaí are also appealing to anyone who was travelling in the Cherry Orchard area at this time, who may have camera (dash cam) footage to make this available to investigating Gardaí.

“Anyone with any information in relation to this incident should contact Ballyfermot Garda Station on 01 666 7200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.

“No arrests have been made, investigations are ongoing.”

One local representative said the level of violence in Cherry Orchard last night ‘could be a tipping point for the community.’

Speaking last night, Cllr. Daithí Doolan, chairperson of the Joint Policing Committee in Dublin South Central, said:

“Tonight’s violence in Cherry Orchard must serve as a wake up call to the Government and senior Gardaí.

“This community has been ignored for too long.

“It urgently needs resources and support to tackle this lawlessness.

“Tonight robbed cars terrorised Cherry Orchard residents from early evening.

“When Gardaí arrived their car was rammed a number of times and had to leave the scene.

“The cars continued to be driven recklessly on the road and were then burnt out in the local park. This was a terrifying ordeal for local residents.

“This nightly violence has to come to an end. Garda Assistant Commissioner for Dublin Angela Willis must deploy extra Gardaí and resources to Ballyfermot.

“Otherwise I am deeply concerned this great community will be abandoned to a very small group of criminals.

“I would appeal to the community, Dublin City Council, youth workers, other politicians and the Gardaí to work together to put solutions in place and pull the community back from the edge.

“We urgently need the Government to work with us and support our plan for Cherry Orchard and turn the situation around before it is too late.”

Fianna Fail Dublin Spokesperson TD Cormac Devlin described the ‘scenes of utter lawlessness evidence of what Gardaí have to deal with.’

“Videos posted online tonight show scenes of utter lawlessness in a Dublin community,” Deputy Devlin said.

“The clips posted online show cars driving erratically and ramming Gardaí without any fear or thought for the Gardaí on duty.

“This is evidence of the shocking incidents Gardaí are forced to deal with as a small proportion of people terrorise a whole community.

“We have to come down much stronger on what is pure lawlessness happening across the capital, and back the Gardaí with the resources and legislation to deal with those who behave with no regard for law or life.

“My thoughts are with the Gardaí having to deal with those incidents this evening as well as the majority of good people being terrorised by these thugs.”