Play space fire is ‘a serious attack’ on children’s facility
By Mary Dennehy
SOUTH Dublin County Council has described the lighting of a fire in the new Greenhills Park play space as a “serious attack” on a community facility.
On Monday morning, council staff were alerted to fire damaged equipment in the new Greenhills Park play space – which is expected to cost more than €3,000 to replace.
The damaged playground in Greenhills Park
According to the council, rubbish was brought into the playspace and set alight under the piece of equipment.
In a comment to The Echo, Laurence Colleran, Senior Executive Parks Superintendent SDCC, said: “On inspection we found that a fire had been lit under a runner wobble belt and the unit was almost completely burnt.
“This unit will have to be replaced.
“The area has been cleaned and made safe by council staff and the playspace remains open.”
He added: “The council considers this to be a very serious attack on a community facility and are liaising with the gardai on the matter.”
According to the council, the playspace in Greenhills Park was installed last summer at a cost of €65,000 – with the fire-damaged piece of equipment costing more than €3,000 to replace.
In recent days, members of the community have expressed their upset over the vandalism.
In a statement issued on Facebook, local councillor Carly Bailey (Social Democrats) said: “Genuinely heartbroken to see the state of the new playground today.
“So many families, including my own have been enjoying these long awaited amenities.
Seen from another angle
“Public money has been spent to finally provide badly needed playgrounds within our community.
“It is simply unacceptable that an individual or a small group of people get to undermine and destroy community facilities like these.”
She added: “Whoever set out to destroy this cares little for their community and the children who love coming to play here. “Shame on you.
“But it cannot and will not stop us fighting for better community facilities in the future.”
Cllr Bailey is meeting with the council next week to discuss the issue.
Greenhills Boy’s AFC, which is located beside the playground, also posted on Facebook: “Terrible to think that this vandalism will stop young children from having the fun this playground should bring.”
When contacted by The Echo, a spokesperson for the club said that there is a need for gardai to be more active in the area.
TAGS Tallaght
