Rock thrown through bus window
By Mary Dennehy
LAST week a large rock was thrown through a Dublin Bus window as it made its way through Tallaght, resulting in a reminder being issued that buses will be withdrawn if this dangerous behaviour continues.
On Thursday evening, November 8, a rock was thrown at a bus as it made its way up the Blessington Road at Kiltalown House.
The rock on the first floor deck of the bus after smashing through the window
The rock smashed through a window, landing on the first floor deck of the bus.
The double decker was entering service at the time, so luckily there were no passengers aboard when the rock was flung.
It did however, put the driver at risk, who was trying to navigate the narrow Blessington Road.
In the summer of 2017, some bus services in Tallaght were seriously under threat due to high levels of anti-social behaviour.
However, following a lot of work by Dublin Bus, South Dublin County Council, local gardai, bus trade unions and communities, incidents of anti-social behaviour subsided.
This work included the drawing up of an agreement, which, still in place, provides for the diversion or withdrawal of services affected by anti-social behaviour in the Tallaght area.
A source from within the trade unions said: “From a safety perspective I’d have massive issue in regards stones being thrown at buses, and not just for drivers for passengers too.
“There was a lot of incidents in the area a year-and-a-half ago, which seemed to have died off due to a lot of work by Dublin Bus, gardai and the trade unions.
“However, this type of behaviour is re-igniting.”
The source added: “This is a dangerous stretch of road, and a bus is a big target with a lot of windows – and when one is broken a lot of broken glass can come in on top of passengers.
“If this happens the bus has to be diverted and to tackle this we need an increase in policing and vigilance and a bigger input from the community.
“[Buses being diverted] affects everyone, a small few are ruining it for everyone.
“We want to remind people that there is a code of practice, and that means that buses will be withdrawn from an area [if there is anti-social behaviour].”
Community forum
Dublin Bus confirmed the recent incident of anti-social behaviour.
A spokesperson for Dublin Bus said: “We have a strong and close working relationship with An Garda Siochana and have set up a number of community forums in different areas across the city including Tallaght.”
The stone that was thrown
The community forum in Tallaght is attended by Dublin Bus, bus trade unions, gardai, South Dublin County Council and local community and elected reps.
According to Dublin Bus, incidents involving Dublin Bus are down 16 per cent compared to 2017.
Anybody who sees anti-social behaviour directed at local bus services is encouraged to contact Tallaght Garda Station on 6666000.
