Canal summer hotspot causing ‘terrible’ trouble

RESIDENTS living near a canal “hotspot” for anti-social activity hope to have a round table meeting with gardai, the council and Waterways Ireland.

During the summer months, large groups of males congregate across the road from the Waterside Pub, at the Ninth Lock in Clondalkin.

The site acts as a meeting point for horse owners who engage in public drinking during the warmer months of the year, leading to illegal dumping, swimming in the canal, and intimidation for women who want to use the pathway on the canal.

Residents suspect scrambler activity on this part of the canal is drug dealing related, noticing similar times and patterns.

A spokesperson for Cappaghmore Residents Association, said: “The issues at the canal are still the same, although Operation Trophy seems to have tackled some of the drug dealing issues, we think.

“The current problems are scramblers on the canal during the day and night. We still have terrible problems in the summer with illegal swimming in the lough, consumption of alcohol, littering, intimidation, mistreatment of horses, cars parked illegally, horses and carts blocking the gates, paths, and the biggest problem of all is that the waterway cannot be used for the purpose of recreation.”

Horse carts tipped up on their side

“In a recent statement to RTE in relation to the ongoing issues with migrants camping along the canal, Waterways Ireland stated that they were working on an ‘alternative pragmatic solution that enables people to fully enjoy the canal amenities, protects biodiversity and is aesthetically appropriate.’ This is exactly what we are looking for on our section of the canal.”

Residents have contacted Waterways Ireland, an Garda Siochana and South Dublin County Council individually.

The Echo contacted SDCC and Waterways Ireland for comment.

Cllr Eoin Ó Broin (SocDems), welcomed the initiative by Cappaghmore residents, but also urged co-operation between Clondalkin and Ronanstown garda stations.

The north side of the canal is in the Ronanstown policing district, but Cappaghmore residents feel the buck is passed between the two stations due their location on the edge of a policing district.

Empty bottles along the wall at the canal

Cllr Ó Broin said: “The garda operation under the previous Clondalkin Supt Tony Twomey was successful in stopping drug dealing around the 11th Lock. Maybe taskforce is too strong a word but that is what it would be called. Cappaghmore need co-operation between both garda stations.

“Maybe there is a role for the horse project on Fonthill Road. Two separate issues are scramblers using the canal, and congregations under the guise of washing horses, turning it into a festival.

“Next door is St Patrick’s Estate and Oakwood Drive where they have similar concerns about scramblers. If they can’t go down the canal, these estates seem to be their back up route.”

Cappaghmore residents say their next step is to try and get all of the stakeholders “around the one table.”