‘Ridiculous situation’ discarded syringes found in public park
By Maurice Garvey
DISCARDED syringes and broken glass is forcing football clubs to check pitches with a fine tooth comb prior to matches.
Le Fanu Park in Ballyfermot is home to two football clubs and residents who use the public amenity, but it has suffered from serious bouts of anti-social behavior and drug dealing in recent months.
Discarded syringes in Le Fanu Park
On Monday morning, a resident found three used syringes and heroin paraphernalia discarded near the Clifden Road side of the park – not the first time syringes have been discovered in the vicinity.
Ballyfermot resident Lisa Kinsella, who found the syringes whilst walking home from her mother’s home in Cherry Orchard, said it was a “ridiculous situation”.
“I was passing by at 11.30am when I saw the syringes under a tree with alcohol wipes. This is beside where kids are coming and going to school,” she said.
Ms Kinsella said she contacted Cllr Daithí Doolan and the syringes were removed the next day, but says the issue needs to be highlighted in the community.
Ballyfermot United Secretary Kevin McGarry, marks the pitches ahead of games for the club, and has noticed an increase of this activity in recent months.
“I walk up and down the pitches to check them on the Thursday and Friday, and have found broken glass stuck deliberately into the pitch,” he said.
“It is disgraceful. Our managers do the same checks on matchdays. Last Summer, was the first time in a while I saw syringes in the park. It seems to be a lot of activity coming from one bench, right next to underage pitches for Cherry Orchard FC.”
The Echo couldn’t get in touch with Cherry Orchard FC by the time of going to print.
The Echo contacted Dublin City Council late on Wednesday, they said they would provide a response as soon as they could.
In August, residents discovered up to 14 syringes at a corner of Cherry Orchard Park, beside Clifden Drive.
One local mother was fed up waiting for authorities to dispose of the used syringes in the middle of an estate, and took matters into to her own hands by removing the offending material with a litter picker.
