Year in Review 2018: May
By Brendan Grehan
MAY IS sadly remembered for two tragic deaths.
On Saturday May 19, IT Tallaght student Jastine Valdez was abducted by Mark Hennessy as she walked home in Enniskerry.
Jastine Valdez
Hennessy was shot dead by gardai the next day and Ms Valdez’s body was found in Puck’s Castle near Rathmichael on Monday May 21. Ms Valdez was later buried in the Philippines.
A GoFundMe campaign in her name has so far raised over €145,000.
On May 14, Leixlip student Anastasia Kriegel (14) was reported missing by her parents.
Anastasia Kriegel
Three days later her body was found at Glenwood House, Laraghcon, Clonee Road, Lucan. Early in June a 13-year-old boy was charged with her murder. In July another 13-year-old was also charged with her murder.
This month we also reported that despite having seven times the national average when it comes to head-on collisions, the N81 road improvement scheme has been “suspended” due to funding restrictions, with the project not expected to be reconsidered until 2027.
During Storm Emma, The Orchard Community Centre in Cherry Orchard opened its doors to anyone who needed assistance or shelter.
Their Herculean efforts were honoured by the Lord Mayor of Dublin with a special reception in the Mansion House.
Volunteers from the Orchard Community Centre were honoured
Despite being the size of Limerick city, Tallaght still only has one garda station. This month we reported that there are plans afoot to build a larger station.
It has been a persistent problem in Tallaght and this month The Echo spoke to four takeaway delivery drivers who had been assaulted and threatened.
In May we also reported that 180 jobs in Paddy Power are to leave Tallaght.
The jobs were to be relocated to the company’s facility in Clonskeagh.
Oisin Byrne with his father Kenneth Byrne and Taoiseach Varadkar at the new primary health care centre
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar visited Tallaght for the opening of a new primary health care centre
Pick up a copy of The Echo, out December 27, for more coverage and pictures from 2018.
