Sir, – I could not agree more with Mark O’Connell’s very good piece on what has taken place in recent weeks along the banks of the Grand Canal and its implications (“Tents charade is anything but ‘common sense’”, Opinion & Analysis, June 1st).
Following the removal of asylum seekers, the wire fencing put in place stretches down to Mount Street bridge on both sides of the canal.
How much this round-up operation and fence installation cost the State is anyone’s guess, but it must have taken a pretty penny.
They probably think it will act as as some kind of deterrent and it does indeed look horrendous and threatening.
How long it is going to remain in situ?
Citizens in the area have been fenced out from their local amenity by the intimidating two-metre high wire fencing.
Not only have the authorities cleared the canal banks of migrants but they have also managed to get rid of the wildlife. Swans and herons have all disappeared and not many birds are circulating about either.
It amounts to the full expression of a frenetic reaction by the Government, when they realised they has lost control, to a situation that was clearly predictable months back. – Yours, etc,
DAVID LYONS,
Dublin 8.