Tallaght club plagued by thugs holds crisis meeting

By Mary Dennehy

ST MARK’S GAA Club held a crisis meeting last Friday in a bid to curb ongoing damage to its pitches – and to seek support from the community, local authority and gardai in sending a united message that this type of anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated anymore.

For the past number of years, Butler/McGee Park in Springfield has been destroyed by scramblers, burnt-out cars, illegal dumping, fires, and broken bottles left behind from gangs drinking on the pitches.

These issues, which have been regularly highlighted in The Echo, have had massive implications for 41-year-old community club, which has lost juvenile players due to the unsafe conditions of playing fields.

At last Friday’s meeting, members of the club met with South Dublin County Council’s executive parks superintendent, Oisín Egan, Paul Allen of the local authority’s parks department and Tallaght Garda Sergeant, Ronan Lawlor.

Sinn Féin councillor Cora McCann, whose family has links to the club, was also present.

She told The Echo: “As highlighted in previous editions of The Echo the club has been plagued with anti-social behaviour for the past number of years and this is having a negative impact on the day-to-day running of the club.

“Some of the issues discussed were the constant nuisance of scramblers on the pitches, which apart from causing damage, poses a serious health and safety risk to club players, in particular the juvenile section.

“These bikes are being raced across the pitches morning, noon and night with absolutely no regard for the safety of club players, mentors and parents.

“The problem is so bad that parents have taken their children from training sessions and the club has lost players in the juvenile section.”

She added: “Another serious issue discussed at the meeting that needs immediate attention is the new boundary wall surrounding the park to facilitate the new road layout on Cookstown Lane.

“Small cars are being lifted over the wall, driven across the pitches at high speed and being set alight all over the park, causing serious damage to the grounds.

“These cars are then exploding and shattering glass all over the pitches which is causing a serious risk to the safety of club players and visiting teams at all levels.

“Other issues needing immediate attention are broken bottles being left behind by people drinking in the park and litter being dumped and burned on the grounds.”

Following the meeting, it was decided, as a starting point, to erect relevant signage around the park targeting dumping and scramblers.

It was also agreed that raising awareness around the issue with the community was vital and that residents should be encouraged to work alongside the club, the council and local gardaí.

Residents and club members are being encouraged to take ownership of the pitches and to engage in maintenance of the park, with a community clean-up being staged on Wednesday, September 7 at 6pm.

Cllr McCann said: “I would encourage all club members their families and local residents to get involved in this campaign as it will benefit the wider community and show people that are abusing the park that it will not be tolerated any longer.”

For further details call the club on 4521609.