Youths armed with angle grinder intent on opening entrance to park

YOUTHS armed with a power tool attempted to gain access to a park at night but were prevented by quick garda action.

The issue occurred recently at Quarryvale Park in Clondalkin.

Speaking at the JPC Policing Meeting, Noreen Byrne, Local Police Forum/Community Safety Forum Coordinator, praised gardai for preventing a “major activity” at the park.

“Gardai confiscated an angle grinder from young people who were clearly intent on opening up the entrance to the park, so scramblers and scooters could have access to it. That was prevented by quick action and quick thinking by local gardai,” said Ms Byrne.

According to local policing forum reports, young people also managed to gain access to another Clondalkin amenity Collinstown Park.

Although the youths “did a bit of damage” in Collinstown Park, it was “brought to an end quickly by guards and South Dublin County Council”, said Byrne.

South Dublin County Council is investing €300,000 into the redevelopment and upgrade of Quarryvale Park.

Work began last year at Quarryvale Park for works that will include a new park layout, upgraded pathways, shared footpath/cycle routes, pedestrian areas with seating, playground and teen space.

Works also include repair to broken sections of periphery wall and the installation of a new boundary fence, the installation of an 800m activity circuit around the periphery of the park, relocation and the upgrade of grass sports pitch.