Fire engine ‘pelted with eggs’ after arriving at scene of Halloween bonfire in Waterford
Cllr Thomas Phelan detailed the incident that occurred at Gallows Hill in Dungarvan at a recent council meeting
A fire engine was “pelted with eggs” after it arrived at the scene of a bonfire on Halloween night in County Waterford, a council meeting has heard.
Labour Party councillor Thomas Phelan detailed the incident that occurred at Gallows Hill in Dungarvan at the November meeting of the Dungarvan-Lismore District.
Cllr Phelan said: “Gallows Hill in Dungarvan is an architectural monument that is protected under the National Monuments Act.
“In light of the bonfire that was held there on Halloween night, can the council be in a position next year with garda assistance as appropriate to prevent the gathering of bonfire material and the bonfire itself from taking place.”
He went on to outline how the fire brigade were treated upon arrival at the scene of the bonfire.
“I appreciate that the fire brigade arrived at the scene on Halloween night when the bonfire was lighting because it was a fine night and there was no rain to stop it.
“When it was called to the scene, the fire engine was pelted with eggs by some youngsters with their faces covered up.
“I think if we can at all be more prepared in the future to prevent the bonfire from being set and material gathered.”
Independent councillor Joe O’Riordan also called on the council to take steps to prevent the lighting of bonfires in the area.
Cllr O’Riordan said: “I’d just like to come in on that point that Cllr Phelan made. They started building the bonfire out there on Saturday morning and I suppose it’s out of council hours.
“I know anti-social behaviour is a garda matter but the people up there now in the Gallows Hill area have been up to their back teeth with what they’ve had to put up with with the anti-social behaviour.”
He went on to say that more forward planning is needed from the council in dealing with such incidents.
“Again, forward planning - we knew that Halloween was coming in. We know that that’s a protected site.
“We know that it’s an area where there shouldn’t be a bonfire so I think probably next year we should be bringing a security team to stop them from building a bonfire there because somebody is going to get hurt up there.
“At the end of the day, if somebody gets hurt up there, the finger is going to be pointed back at the council.”
In response to the two councillors, Dawn Wallace, Senior Executive Officer at Waterford City and County Council, said that the council has put out communications discouraging people from lighting bonfires.
Ms Wallace said: “Just in relation to the fire, I know that the fire service has done lots of comms along with our waste enforcement team in relation to calling on businesses particularly and members of the public not to supply waste material to people.
“We can’t put security on every site where there might be a bonfire. We’re certainly not resourced for that.
“It’s absolutely abysmal that our fire and emergency services would be treated in that way by anybody.”
She also referenced inspections that are carried out surrounding the gathering of waste material for bonfires.
“The waste enforcement team do targeted inspections around this time of year particularly around construction sites where waste material is being stored or built up.”
Ms Wallace concluded by saying that these inspections are carried out in order to ensure that such material is removed.