Arson attack in Tymon Park fuels fears about new playground

By Mary Dennehy

THE public toilets in Tymon Park remain closed this week after becoming the target of an afternoon arson attack – an incident which has further fuelled fears around the safety of a new playground due to open in the park later this month.

On Friday, February 24, a unit from Tallaght Fire Station descended on Tymon Park after the public toilets, located at the Wellington-end, were set on fire.

This was the latest arson attack on the park in recent weeks, after vandals set fire to the Nitro Racing track at the Tallaght-end, the fourth time the volunteer-led, community amenity has been targeted.

When contacted by The Echo, South Dublin County Council confirmed that the public toilets are currently closed as they await scheduled refurbishment.

The council also confirmed that gardai are investigating the incident, alongside a separate fire that was set in the playground of Sean Walsh Park earlier this month, which also caused substantial damage.

Speaking with The Echo this week, Tallaght Central councillor Mick Duff said: “We need better security for Tymon Park, which should include security personnel doing 24-hour patrols and CCTV.

“There are a lot of valuable public amenities in Tymon Park and we need to protect its amenities, like the new playground, as best we can.

“Tymon Park is a great asset to many communities and we want tosee it being developed . . . but we need to see the introduction of 24-hour mobile patrols to keep the area safe.” 

The council has told The Echo that the new playground in Tymon Park has been constructed in the most public part of the park beside the Rangers station and the apartments, with the new natural style playgrounds “less susceptible” to fire damage as natural materials such as grass, wood fibre and sand are used instead of rubber surfacing.