Council sensitivity urged after Veronica Guerin row

LOCAL councils have been urged to adopt a more sensitive approach when naming Dublin’s roads and bridges after a proposal to call the N7 Newlands Cross flyover after murdered journalist Veronica Guerin ended in a political row.

A proposal to name the flyover after the Sunday Independent reporter was dropped after an appeal by her family as a result of the controversy.

Labour TD Robert Dowds called for it to be named after the crime reporter, who was shot dead on the Naas dual carriageway near Newlands Cross in 1996.

Transport Minister Pascal Donohoe added that it would be

“appropriate

? to name the flyover after Ms Guerin.

An application to re-name the flyover was made at a Clondalkin committee meeting, with a decision expected to be made by South Dublin County Council.

However, in a statement issued by Sinn Fein, Cllr Jonathan Graham said naming the flyover after one victim of gangland violence would exclude the memory of others.

“My own view was that as there are many families from Clondalkin who have lost loved ones from gangland violence, we didn’t want the council to be perceived as focusing exclusively on one family to the exclusion of others,

? he said.

The proposal was subsequently dropped after Veronica’s brother Jimmy Guerin wrote to South Dublin County Council asking that it be withdrawn following the controversy.

At a meeting of the Land Use, Planning and Transportation Committee in South Dublin County Council chambers, chairman William Lavelle (FG) said there was

“broad agreement

? that the council would

“fully respect

? the wishes of the late reporter’s family not to name the bridge in her honour. Now, Fine Gael MEP Brian Hayes has called on local authorities to introduce a formal consultation process when naming roads, bridges and tunnels.

“The family of Veronica Guerin recently asked South Dublin councillors not to consider naming the N7 Newlands Cross flyover after the heroic journalist due to fears that the issue may turn into a

‘political football’ following comments from a Sinn Féin councillor,

? Mr Hayes said.

“It is regrettable that the opportunity to honour Veronica in this way did not happen.

“In our city and county we have a dearth of public infrastructure named after civic and sporting personalities, especially women.

“The unseemly events surrounding the naming of the Newlands Cross flyover should never happen again,

? he added.

Mr Hayes called on local authorities to agree a formal public consultation process for the naming of public infrastructure, noting that Dublin City Council had been a leader on this issue.

When contacted, South Dublin County Council said it did not want to comment on the matter.

Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council said they would not be in a position to respond to our query at time of going to press.