Drug dealers using quad bikes to ply trade on local green spaces
By Maurice Garvey
DEALERS are using quad bikes to ply their drug trade on green spaces in Clondalkin - circumventing detection on public roads, according to residents in Bawnogue.
A number of residents The Echo spoke to this week, have witnessed people on quad bikes dealing drugs openly in recent weeks - in one case beside primary Scoil Nano Nagle.
The longstanding issues of quads and scramblers – an issue that affects numerous communities across the county – has led to community groups demanding action from authorities.
The Westbourne Community Group in Bawnogue, say residents contact them on a “daily basis” about “life-threatening behaviour of young people and teenagers on scramblers.”
Two weeks ago, the group sent out a letter to all local TD’s, councillors, gardai and South Dublin County Council, asking what have they done to help resolve the issue, what recommendations they have, and if they would be involved in a working group.
“We got roughly a 40 per cent response back, a lot of them are weak,” said a member of Westbourne CG and Friends of St Cuthbert’s.
“One TD said he was aware of the situation, which was very patronising. They are all blaming each other. We need to do something about this, more houses are due to be built in the area.”
The Community Safety Forum in Bawnogue say they have been consistently discussing the issue “over four years with no credible response “ from authorities.
Richard Costello, development worker with the forum said: “We are supporting the residents in Westbourne to get a more effective local response, and are awaiting further responses before exploring what options may be available.
“The concern on the ground is that there is a degree of protection for quad bikes. They know they won’t be chased. They have wised up to that. Up and down the Nangor Road, not showing any road awareness. It’s only a matter of time before someone is killed.”
A Westbourne resident said two young lads on scramblers tried to crash into her recently on St Cuthbert’s Road.
“They tried to overtake me on the inside lane then swung in front of me and started jamming on the brakes, all the while giving me the middle finger and calling me every name under the sun. This was while I had my 21-month old nephew in the car.”
Garda policy is to not chase young lads on quad bikes, in case it results in a serious accident.
Ultimately, irate residents are left hoping that parents of those responsible for terrorising communities, will become responsible parents themselves.
“We need deterrents, and have some ideas but we still have to canvass residents” said the resident.
“There is a rat run between Lealand to Westbourne and the Swallows. A few small walls, not that much work would be needed, could be put in place to contain the situation.”
