Today we learned that the gardaí have marked certain areas of Dublin as ‘no go areas’ for emergency crews. So where are these ‘no go areas’ and why are they so dangerous?
Have emergency crews really been told not to go into certain areas of Dublin tonight?
Sadly, yes. Emergency crews are getting ready for what they call ‘the busiest night of the year’ as Halloween rolls around once again. So the gardaí have pinpointed certain areas of the capital that they believe could pose as a treat to ambulance and fire crews – not to mention the gardaí themselves.
So where exactly are these ‘no go areas’?
Well, according to reports, pockets of the inner city have been designated as potential ‘no-go areas’ and gardaí say they received information that emergency crews would be targeted tonight in the Ballyfermot and Cherry Orchard areas. It’s worrying to think that in this day and age people would be out to harm the emergency service members, who could one day end up having to save the thug’s life or the life of a loved one.
It’s disgusting alright. But what happens if something goes down in those areas to an innocent bystander?
Okay, while certain areas are being called ‘no go areas’ it doesn’t mean there will be absolutely no police or emergency crew presence. A senior garda source said, “Safety of gardaí and crew members is paramount. A robust plan is in place to try and ensure that communities are protected and that we see no repeat of the violence of previous years.” So they’ve told the emergency crews to be on the look out and not to venture too far into those areas unless they absolutely must.
So what has happened in previous years to make it this bad?
Well, last year in Ballyfermot, thugs decided to smash all the streetlights on the day of Halloween so that their antics later on would be cloaked by darkness and a female garda suffered a head injury that required nine stitches. The local county councils also spend millions in cleaning up the mess caused by bonfires and burning out cars every year so a few hours of fun now could take weeks to clean up later.
So is there someone I should call if I do see kids stockpiling for a bonfire?
You can always call the Dublin City Council special hotline number on 1800 251 500. And remember, only call the emergency services tonight if you seriously need them. It is their busiest night of the year after all.
