Wooden picnic bench deliberately set on fire
By Aimee Walsh
MEMBERS of the public were shocked to find a public park bench in Tymon Park had been deliberately burned down on Saturday morning, reports Aimee Walsh.
One side of the wooden picnic bench has been destroyed by a fire that was started using BBQ charcoal and is now unusable to the public.
The park bench in Tymon Park on Saturday morning with charcoal on the ground
The bench is located near the children’s playground in Tymon Park and was discovered by park-goers.
Independent for Tallaght Central, Councillor Mick Duff commented on the incident: “It is appalling to think that people will go out and deliberately set fire to a bench where people are enjoying it, they need Tymon park at the moment to get out in their 5k for their daily walks. It was a very deliberate and determined action.
“Somebody quite deliberately had to bring charcoal with them, and we have seen this type of behaviour before when there was a fire log used to set fire to the St Aengus Club Centre, and its serious in regard to the individual involved and their state of mind.
“If they can go and do a simple thing like that to a bench, what else are they going to be capable of? Unless they don’t want people to enjoy themselves.”
There have been ongoing issues with anti-social behaviour in the area of recent, with large groups gathering on the weekends to engage in drinking throughout Level 5 restrictions, as reported in The Echo last week.
“We cannot let this type of anti-social behaviour that is going on define us. Is it just a need for destruction, an arsonists need that is in them to see the flames and get a buzz out of it?
“It makes me worry as to what the future holds for these people – what will they be capable of in the community.”
Cllr Duff said it is an act of vandalism that impacts psychologically and physically on the public when they arrived at the park on Sunday morning.
“It would have been heart-breaking to see that especially beside a children’s playground. We see this and think is the playground next?”
The incident has sparked concerns as it comes after last week’s announcement of plans to build a €1.29 million intergenerational centre in Tymon Park.
“It would make you think, what do we have to do to protect that with this type of behaviour going on, it’s sick and it’s sad.” Cllr Duff added.
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