Gardaí to tackle Halloween menace

THE gardaí are set to increase patrols of parks and open spaces across the Southside in the run up to Halloween in a bid to tackle anti-social behaviour.

It was revealed at the recent meeting of the Joint Policing Committee of the Garda’s DMR West division and South Dublin County Council that more officers will be on the ground as ‘Operation Irene’ is extended over the Halloween period.

Deputy John Curran (FF) welcomed the plans after attending the meeting.

“Increased Garda patrols of our parks and open spaces over the Halloween period is to be welcomed,” Deputy Curran said. “Operation Irene was a very successful operation that was implemented by the gardaí over the summer months to tackle Public Order issues where particular emphasis was placed on our local parks and open areas in an attempt to prevent anti-social and criminal activity.

“This operation was particularly successful and proved a deterrent towards persons who previously engaged in anti-social and criminal activity in areas such as Fonthill, and Liffey Valley Shopping Centre, Griffeen Park, in the environs of the shops at Ballyowen, Hillcrest and Lucan shopping centre, according to the gardaí.”

According to Deputy Curran, the gardaí have confirmed that a full policing plan, including an extension to ‘Operation Irene’ will be in operation during the Halloween period to combat similar anti-social behaviour and to improve “community confidence” in local parks and recreational spots. 

Business Watch programmes and Neighbourhood Watch Groups are also now operational in Clondalkin Village, Lucan, Rathcoole, Saggart and Citywest areas while the Garda Late Night Leagues will commence in November.

“Local residents deserve to feel safe in their local parks and open spaces,” Deputy Curran added.”Therefore, I welcome the extension of ‘Operation Irene’ by An Garda Síochána and I will call for its continued extension in our area in order to provide continued safety and prevention of anti-social behaviour.

Meanwhile, Cllr Charlie O’Connor (FF) has said that a comprehensive plan should be devised by South Dublin County Council and put in place well in advance to deal with the annual challenges presented by the forthcoming Halloween bonfire season.

The local councillor received information recently which revealed that over 380 bonfires took place in South Dublin during the 2017 Halloween bonfire season.

The clean-up and subsequent reinstatement of the ground formed a huge portion of the €87,000 in taxpayers’ funding which was spent.

Earlier this summer, the Chief Executive of South Dublin County confirmed to Cllr O’Connor that unmanned aerial vehicles [drones] will be deployed to detect the illegal stockpiling of bonfire material.

Cllr O’Connor said: “The illegal stockpiling of bonfire materials in the lead up to Halloween can cause major stress and difficulty for residents across South Dublin.

“In the two-week period before October 31 last year, South Dublin County Council was notified of 300 illegal stockpiles which were to be set alight on Halloween night.

“The vast majority of the 156 tonnes of material collected by SDCC in the same two weeks was intended for bonfires.

“There are many communities across Tallaght and South Dublin that suffer year after year from the social, economic and environmental impact of illegal bonfires,” the councillor added

“The residents in these areas have repeatedly demanded action to be taken to prevent these bonfires, which pose a very dangerous threat to the safety of anyone living nearby and their property.

“It would be more much more effective if a comprehensive strategy was devised between all relevant agencies and put into action over the summer months well in advance of Halloween.

“We all have a responsibility to make our young people aware of the adverse impact that illegal bonfires have on an area and to remind them of the dangers involved.”

The crackdown comes as a meeting of the south-central area committee agreed to take action in Willie Pearse Park Crumlin, following the arson attack on the playground there earlier in the summer.

Cllr Ray McHugh (SF) brought a motion before the committee requiring that all entrances to the park are made more secure after closing time of the park.

This is to include replacing the ‘kissing gates’ at the Star bingo lane and on Windmill Road to protect the park after a gang set tyres alight in the park and damaged the playground.

Cllr McHugh also requested they the area committee write to the Garda commissioner requesting the urgent need for more gardaí for the Crumlin area to protect the community and the facilities which he said “are under attack from gangs of youths”.

“There is no place in our community for people who are hell bent on destroying the community,” Cllr McHugh said. “The people of Crumlin deserve better.

“I campaigned for many years to get this playground for Crumlin with over 800 residents signing a petition for this facility for the children and the future children of the area.

“Willie Pearse Park is a great facility for the people of Crumlin, and as Chair of the local Police Forum I have called for extra Garda patrols in the park.”