Concerns over removal of life-saving equipment

CONCERNS have been raised over the removal of potentially life-saving equipment from a Northside park. 

In the last four years, Dublin City Council has had to replace 28 lifebuoys from the edge of the lake at Father Collins Park, Donaghmede, at a cost of just under €1,800. 

Cllr Tom Brabazon (FF), who represents the Beaumont-Donaghmede Local Electoral Area (LEA), received the figures from the city council. 

Cllr Brabazon has called on those responsible for continuing to remove lifebuoys to stop and think about what they are doing.

“When the park was completed in 2009 there were serious reservations noted by several public representatives and local residents, including myself, regarding the beautiful lake feature in the park in the sense that it was not fenced off,” he told Northside People.  

“We were concerned naturally about public safety and, in particular, for very young children and vulnerable elderly. 

“The park really is a wonderful local resource for the entire Donaghmede, Clongriffin, Belmayne and the surrounding rapidly developing North Fringe area.

“In recent times I have noticed that the life buoys have been disappearing off the stands at the lake feature. Sometimes they would be removed and thrown into the water and at other times they would simply vanish.”

Cllr Brabzon said while the cost of the replacement may not be significant there has been times that due to the theft/removal of the lifebuoys there would have been no cover in the event of an incident despite the council’s parks department’s very best efforts.

“Whether it is people taking alcohol or drugs or plainly stupid people this callous disregard to life and safety must stop,” he added. 

“We really need to prevent this by active enforcement and perhaps looking at high level prosecutions.”