Youths shooting fireworks at buses arrested by Gardai

By Aura McMenamin

Dublin Bus drivers working on routes to West Tallaght will be on high alert over Halloween, as youths are beginning to shoot fireworks at buses, with the number of missile-throwing incidents increasing overall.

The Dublin Bus/Luas Community Forum, aimed at addressing antisocial behaviour on public transport serving Tallaght, heard on Friday that three youths were arrested this month after shooting fireworks at a moving bus.

In an incident on September 11, three youths were arrested after they threw fireworks at the 27 bus while it drove along Jobstown Road.

According to a member of the National Bus and Rail Union: “The driver’s hearing was affected for fifteen minutes afterwards.”

Gardai said: “Gardai responded to a public order incident on September 11 at approximately 6.30pm and arrested three juvenile boys. They were dealt with by way of the juvenile diversion program.”

According to the NBRU member, the same driver was stopped on the Brookfield Road the next day, when children threw a full bottle of coke at the driver’s cab.

Last Thursday September 28, youths also threw a firework in the lower saloon of the 27 bus as it was parked at the Jobstown terminus.

Friday’s community forum was attended by councillors Brian Leech (AAA) and Charlie O’Connor (FF), as well as Sinn Fein TD Sean Crowe and representatives for Fianna Fail TD and the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Katherine Zappone.

The number of incidents for September rose to 17 occurring from September 1 to September 25. An increase on August with 12 reported incidents.

The majority of incidents this month involved missiles being thrown at the 27 bus.

The NBRU member said that union representatives would meet with garda twice ahead of Halloween to decide how to tackle antisocial behaviour issues.

The NBRU member said: “Union reps travel up and down on bus routes to support drivers who are driving into areas where anti-social behaviour occurs.

“If it gets too crazy, or if bonfires are taking place too close to where the bus stops, we instantly pull them from the area.”