Youths storm tyre bay in bid for bonfire material
By Maurice Garvey
A GANG of youths tried to storm a business premises on the Greenhills Road on Wednesday – turning violent when they were refused entry.
Up to 20 teenagers turned up at Tyre Master on Wednesday afternoon, in a brazen attempt to bamboozle staff and steal material for bonfires.
Staff at Tyre Master held their ground, but the gang then engaged in threatening behaviour, pelting rocks and stones at the premises, as they retreated back towards the Walkinstown roundabout.
Gardaí were on the scene shortly after the incident, which occurred at approximately 4pm on Wednesday.
A Tyre Master employee told The Echo: “About twenty of them showed up and bombarded the place. It turned into a bit of an argument – they were throwing rocks at the windows.”
No staff were hurt during the ordeal, which lasted about 15 minutes, and the gang didn’t manage to steal any tyres.
Last year, Dublin City Council removed approximately 1,500 tyres and 750 tonnes of bonfire material in the whole city.
A more robust approach has led to a significant decrease in anti-social problems ever since an under-staffed garda unit were attacked in Cherry Orchard on Halloween night in 2011.
Gardaí have been to see a couple of “problematic” tyre dealers around the city in recent weeks, to prevent stockpiling of bonfire material.
Public domain units in local authorities have engaged additional crews and vehicles to facilitate removal of bonfire material in the days leading up to and including Halloween.
Over €20,000 has been allocated by the council for the Halloween budget in Dublin South Central alone.
A spokesperson for Dublin City Council said: “There has been a large number of tyres collected, but at this stage, we are not in a position to provide the exact number.”
Reports of locations of stored bonfire material can made to DCC at 222 2222 or 1800 251500 during normal office hours.
