Madam, - For quite a few years, illegal dumping, car-part dealing in a field overlooking private housing, acrid smoke nuisance from the burning of tyres and batteries, petrol explosions when fires ignited the tank petrol remnants in derelict cars, the sale of illegal diesel and trading in counterfeit goods have been part of life around the environs of Dunsink Lane.
Attempts to use video surveillance failed. The tabloid press alleged that two Travellers living along the road were involved in armed robberies including ATM heists and were capable of great violence. Local rumour fuelled by the press supposed that guns and illegal drugs were secreted in the area. The volume of illegal diesel sales was reputed to be about 40,000 litres per week resulting in a profit of €250,000 per year. The whole scene has been a cause of concern in Finglas for some years.
Mr Noel Ahern, TD summed up conventional presumptions when he said: "Many Travellers living in the area suffered intimidation at the hands of criminal elements. . . there's all forms of criminality going on up there. . . Because of threats of intimidation, it would have been impossible to consult with residents at the halting sites." Previously, the Criminal Assets Bureau had landed one resident with a bill of €1 million for tax evasion.
We now know that a search of the Traveller sites by 200 gardaí over four hours yielded counterfeiting DVD equipment, imitation hand-guns, hand-held and rocket-launched fireworks, a spear gun, two crossbows with 20 steel-tipped arrows, a bullet-proof vest, about 20 knives, a long Samurai sword, stolen power tools and 40 bullets for a high-powered rifle.
Whether or not weapons had been moved surreptitiously away from the area in anticipation of the search is unknown to me.
Was the police and council response appropriate? I think not. Clearly, the placement of a 20-ton concrete obstruction provoked a very angry reaction among the Travellers which led to a serious breakdown in law and order. Many local settled youths also joined the riot, leading to a frightening fracas over many nights. Golf balls, rocks, petrol bombs and catapult missiles were hurled at gardaí. Many houses and cars in the nearby estate were damaged. Finglas people were intimidated and frightened out of their wits in their own homes and cars.
Was their suffering avoidable? Almost certainly. The inconvenience and cost imposed upon the many caught up in the traffic chaos should be included in any Garda operation audit.
About 200 gardaí were involved at various times. The Garda helicopter and searchlight was very evident. However, their search failed to reveal the Finglas equivalent of weapons of mass destruction. Was there a more peaceful, less expensive and less traumatic way to achieve the objective of the re-imposition of law and order? The more targeted approach used in the latest search and arrest operation seems correct.
The rights of all citizens must be respected and people, including Travellers, are innocent until proven guilty. I could not imagine a bollard like that placed in Dunsink Lane being used elsewhere in the city.
Looking forward, illegal trading and dumping must be prevented, criminal activity curbed, intimidation where present within the Traveller community firmly eliminated, environment laws enforced and the area properly developed for housing.
Unfortunately, Dunsink Lane is in the Fingal County Council area. We in the city would sort it out quickly, if the Minister for the Environment were to shift the boundaries. - Yours, etc.,
Dr BILL TORMEY (Fine Gael), City Councillor for Finglas, City Hall, Dublin 2.