Burnt out cars are ‘routine to us now, we’re used to it’

MEMBERS of Croí Ró Naofa GAA Club were disappointed when they discovered a burnt-out car beside their pitch in Killinarden Park over the weekend.

This is the third time in recent weeks that a burnt-out car has been left within the perimeter of the club’s pitches, and the damage to the pitches is a near constant source of frustration for club officials.

Tommy Clinton from Croí Ró Naofa told The Echo: “Our main pitch has been damaged again because of this, but in fairness to the council they said they’d come up and fix it.

“Our training doesn’t start back until the end of the month, but if our nursery was going, the parents would be walking over with their kids seeing the burnt-out cars – it would look awful.”

Killinarden Park has been plagued by anti-social behaviour over recent years, with scramblers and other unauthorised vehicles driving on the public green spaces and on the pitches of Croí Ró Naofa.

From 2018 to April 2022, a total of 83 cars had been burnt-out on the pitches, leading club members to unsuccessfully call for an enclosed pitch.

South Dublin County Council stated that it would be inappropriate for a portion of a public park to be fenced off, and instead plan to develop raised pitches as part of upgrade works to the park.

“[The burnt-out cars] are routine to us now, we’re used to it,” remarked Mr Clinton.

Track marks on the grass areas in Killinarden Park

“We know now that the council won’t do an enclosed pitch when they’re upgrading the park, but a raised pitch isn’t going to work.

“I don’t think raised pitches will be beneficial to the club, we’ll just have the same issues.

“But I’m not blaming the council here, they’re responsive and they block off areas in the park where the cars are getting in, but I don’t know what the next step is – we’re in limbo.”

Mr Clinton added that club members hope that the pitch will be sufficiently repaired by the time training recommences later this month.

A spokeswoman for South Dublin County Council told The Echo that the car was removed last Tuesday, January 3, and works will be undertaken to repair the park’s boundary.

“Arrangements have been made to have the damaged railing repaired, in the meantime boulders have been placed at the location of the damaged railing,” she said.

“Also, reinstatement of any damaged parkland will take place as soon as weather permits.

“If any member of the public has any information in relation to this incident, can they contact South Dublin County Council and/or An Garda Siochana.”