Vandals wreak havoc in Tymon playgrounds
By Mary Dennehy
THE play space at the Wellington Lane side of Tymon Park was closed to children for two days last week due to significant damage caused when a commercial wheelie bin was set on fire.
This is the second fire to be set in Tymon Park in the space of a month, with the wooden tower in the new play space at the Tallaght-end still out-of-action after a fire was set inside it in early January.
Play tower in new play space remains closed
The late night fire, which was set on January 2, has resulted in the popular piece of play equipment being closed to children for the past month while South Dublin County Council awaits a replacement tower.
The new playground swung into action last April, with the natural design incorporating robust materials, which the council hoped would protect equipment from vandalism.
The council this week confirmed to The Echo that the rest of the play space at the Tallaght-end remains in use and that a replacement tower is being sought.
On Saturday, February 3, another fire was set in Tymon Park, this time at the Wellington-end.
A crew from Rathfarnham Fire Station was called to the park after a commercial wheelie bin was set on fire.
According to Dublin Fire Brigade, the crew had to cut railings with consaw to allow access to the fire, which they described on Twitter as a “mindless fire causing needless damage and costs”.
Fire fighters attempting to gain access to bin fire in Tymon Park. Pic courtesy of Dublin Fire Brigade.
When contacted by The Echo, Mary Maguire of the council’s environment department said: “There was fire damage here on February 3 due to a commercial wheelie bin being set alight and which burnt out on rubber surfacing.
“This caused significant damage to the surface resulting in the need to close the facility over the following two days, February 4 and 5.
“Repairs were completed on Monday and the facility re-opened on Tuesday.”
According to the council confirmed there are no CCTV systems at these locations.
TAGS Tallaght
