MD Condemns Vandalism in Carrigaline Community Park

Writes Leo McMahon

Vandalism and anti-social behaviour in Carrigaline Community Park was strongly condemned at the recent meeting of the county council’s Carrigaline Municipal District (MD).

The issue was highlighted by Cllr Una McCarthy (FG) who said it was devastating to see the aftermath of what happened on Friday night, May 15^th. Two seats were forcibly moved leaving metal fixtures sticking up from the ground, a shopping trolley was discarded and litter was strewn in the vicinity of the gazebo.

She herself contacted the out of hours team in the council and emailed the MD office. People had contacted her since asking if the council could progress the use of closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras in the area ahead of refurbishing the children’s playground in the park.  She felt the council needed to be more pro-active and see how they could all work together as a community to tackle the problem.

Leas cathaoirleach presiding, Cllr Audrey Buckley (FF) concurred. She said she contacted An Garda Siochana because there was also egging of cars and a person getting on the roof of the gazebo.  It was obvious there was need for more guards on the ground but the lack of these was a big issue within the force itself. In addition, there had been no further progress on getting General Data Protection Legislation (GDPR) passed that would enable CCTV cameras and monitoring and therefore sadly, a few were continuing to ruin things for the many.

Cllr Patrick Donovan (FF) said it was very sad to the council investing thousands of euro in a community park in the largest town in the county and a small minority coming out and destroy benches etc. It made him worry about the new playground due to be installed this year.

Carrigaline Community Park not always a tranquil place due to anti-social behaviour -photo Leo McMahon

The community park was choc-o-bloc with people from 7am each day until night and a fantastic amenity.  It was obvious CCTV was needed and it had gone beyond the stage and not good enough for the council to be pouring money into park improvements and then be expected to put benches back down. There was need to work with the Gardai, Tidy Towns and schools to stamp it out. Cllr Eoghan Fahy (SF) concurred.

Both acting senior executive engineer Andy O’Brien and MD officer Denise Kidney said GDPR and the use and monitoring of CCTV was a national issue that needed resolving, adding that there was also a cost factor.

A multi-pronged approach was needed because it would be impossible to have 24/7 Garda presence, said Cllr McCarthy. In addition to pursuing CCTV, and more Garda patrols, consideration would have to be given to locking the upcoming new playground at night because it was too important an investment to be left to vandalism.  To this, the MD officer said it would cost nearly €1million a year to lock all the playgrounds and parks in the county every day.

There was still need to know the cost of installing CCTV and how it could actually be operated for resolving issues, said the engineeer while acting director of services Karina Cremin agreed it was a national issue.

A public Garda Forum meeting is due to be arranged for Carrigaline Community Complex hosted by the Community Association.