Waterford councillors tell tale of a 'scary' and 'dangerous' Halloween night
There were calls at the Dungarvan-Lismore District Council for security to be put in place in Gallowshill next year. Stock Image.
Fire engines were pelted with eggs and fireworks hit the ground in front of children on Halloween night in Gallowshill.
That is according to councillor Thomas Phelan at the November Dungarvan-Lismore District Council meeting.
Cllr Phelan said that crews had gone out to Gallowshill to put out a bonfire.
“I was appalled to see the fire engines pelted with eggs by some youngsters with their faces covered up there,” said Cllr Phelan.
Pointing out that Gallowshill is a protected archaeological monument, the Dungarvan councillor asked that the council be better prepared to collect bonfire material from the area next year.
Cllr Phelan also raised the issue of illegal fireworks on the site and asked that the council might organise an official display.
“They are just so dangerous, and some were skipping on the ground in front of children and going over and back over the hill. It was scary in fact,” said Cllr Phelan.
Cllr Joe O’Riordan said that the bonfire was built on Saturday morning “outside of council hours.” He said anti-social behaviour is a major problem in the Gallowshill area and residents “are sick to their back teeth of it.” While anti-social behaviour is a garda matter as opposed to the council’s responsibility, Cllr O’Riordan asked that security is hired next year to quell any trouble.
“Somebody is going to get hurt up there, said Cllr O’Riordan.
Cllr O’Riordan said he would disagree with a public firework display because of the distress it causes to animals.
But he also said that there needed to be more of a Garda presence in Dungarvan.
“When was the last time you saw a garda walking the beat in Dungarvan at night? I haven’t seen it for years,” said Cllr O’Riordan.
Senior Executive Officer in the Environment section, Dawn Wallace, called the treatment of the fire service “abysmal”.
But she said that the council are not able to put security teams on every site where there could be a bonfire.
“There was a substantive public communication that goes out both from the waste team and the fire service to discourage people from fighting bonfires and using fireworks and such things.
“The Waste Enforcement Team do targeted inspections around this time of year, particularly around construction sites, looking at where waste materials is being stored or built up,” said Ms Wallace.
