Elderly Clondalkin residents living in terror

By Maurice Garvey

ELDERLY residents are being subjected to a terror campaign by a group of thugs – who are using a laneway in an estate as a cover for intimidation, reports Maurice Garvey.

The Echo understands that the laneway – located between Lindisfarne and Melrose in Clondalkin – is also used to stash drugs, Halloween bonfire material, and has become a hive of anti-social activity in recent years.

South Dublin County Council has erected a fence to seal off the laneway on three occasions, but on three occasions it has been cut down, with boltcutters used to take down the fence last week.

Sinn Féin Councillor Mark Ward says the problem has existed for three years, and has left a number of “elderly people living in fear.”

Cllr Ward said: “Some of the elderly residents live alone. Youths have been getting into their gardens, climbing on roofs, throwing fireworks and stuff at homes, and in some cases, chimneys have been damaged.

“The council erected a substantial fence, which was vandalised last week. The council re-erected it on Thursday and it was pulled back down on Friday. I’ve asked the council to inspect and remove anything stored in this lane on a daily basis.”

With Halloween taking place over a bank holiday this year, Cllr Ward has expressed concern at the “possibility the council may not be able to provide sufficient staff” from Friday to Tuesday morning.

“I will also be looking for a long-term solution that may include incorporating the lanes into gardens in both Lindisfarne and Melrose,” said Cllr Ward, who has put Halloween staff and proposals to seal off the laneway on the agenda at the next Clondalkin area committee.

A spokesperson for South Dublin County Council said: “The fence was installed to prevent the dumping of materials. The fence has been damaged on a number of occasions and has been replaced and repaired. The fence has again recently been damaged and the council is examining the situation.”