Joyriders terrorise players during U11 camogie match in Tallaght
By Aura McMenamin
Gardai are investigating after joyriders sped through the playing pitches of St Mark’s GAA club during a camogie match last Sunday, leaving the young players ‘terrified’.
Under 11s players from St Mark’s were playing against Clanna Gael Fontenoy GAA Club from Ringsend on Sunday, when a car entered the playing pitches of Butler/McGee Park.
According to a father of an 11-year-old St Mark’s player, a line of men formed around the match as the car was driving ‘three to four meters’ from the crowd of spectators.
The father said that as a result of the commotion, two of the girls playing for St Mark’s went home in tears.
Gardai arrested a man in relation to the incident on Sunday afternoon.
Gardai said: “ On Sunday 24 Sept at approximately 12.35pm Gardai received reports of a car being driven in the vicinity of GAA pitches at Cookstown Road. It is understood juvenile matches were taking place on nearby pitches at the time.
“A 20-year-old man was arrested under the road traffic acts a short time later. He was brought to Tallaght Garda Station and later released.
“He is expected to appear before a sitting of Tallaght District Court later next month in relation to the incident. There was no reports of any injuries.”
According to the parent who attended the match, the car used was later burned out on the Fettercairn end of the field.
Patsy McCann, chairman of St Mark’s GAA Club, said Sunday’s anti-social behaviour incident is just one of many affecting the club’s pitches, which are owned by South Dublin County Council.
Mr McCann said: “Why is nothing being done about this? There’s drugs, needles being left on the pitch. The grass is not being cut, the playing surface is unsuitable.
Mr McCann said the club was holding an emergency meeting on the issue of ongoing antisocial behaviour and had invited local representatives and TDs to attend.
In a separate incident on Friday night, residents of Fettercairn reported that joyriders had destroyed the sections of railing and a wall at Drumcairn Parade.
A man, who did not wish to be named, said: “The car rammed through the fence and into the field after 7pm. It was being driven by local young fellas, aged 14-16.”
According to the Fettercairn man, residents who called for the joyriders to stop were abused by a group of onlooking and cheering teenagers.
“There was a group of teenagers on the field giving residents abuse” he said. “One woman was called a ‘whore’, they told people to ‘get off the field because it was their time to play’.”
The man said that this went on for two to three hours on Friday night, with Gardai not immediately responding to calls.
Pictures taken on Saturday morning show the damage to the wall and knocked-down fencing, which is believed to have been used by Sunday’s joyriders as a ramp onto the pitch.
A spokesperson from South Dublin County Council said: “I can confirm that the Council will be undertaking repair works required at this location. The council arranges for the immediate removal of burned out vehicles.”
