Lord Mayor calls for 'action that works' following Dublin's recent tragedies
A series of tragic events over the past few weeks “have brought Dubliners together in grief, shock, anger, and a shared determination to make our city safer and stronger.”
These are the sentiments of Lord Mayor Ray McAdam who delivered a heartfelt speech at Monday’s full council meeting in tribute to those who have lost their lives and the communities left devastated. Speaking on the death of Grace Lynch in a scrambler tragedy, the bus crash victim Frank Daly , and the families and traders severely impacted by flooding, Lord Mayor McAdam stressed “the past fortnight has been a difficult one for our capital city.”
Lord Mayor McAdam said the death of 16 year old Grace Lynch on January 25 “must be a line in the sand” and that the government’s “long overdue” decision to ban scrambler bikes in public places must proceeded. He said that Grace's life was cut short far too soon and has caused a level of grief that is “almost impossible to comprehend” and “a loss no family should ever have to face.”
“I want to be very clear this evening, we in this chamber and Dubliners across this city want more than simple announcements, we want action that actually works,” Lord Mayor McAdam said.
“In the North Inner City my colleagues and I have seen exactly what illegal scramblers lead to - serious injuries, intimidation, chaos in parks and housing complexes, and families left devastated. So a total ban in public places must mean exactly that; no loopholes, no grey areas, no excuses.
“It must be enforced, the gardai need clear powers, real backing on the ground, and fast effective processes to seize these bikes and keep them off our streets. Not for a few days, not to be collected and used again, but off the road, off the footpaths, and out of our communities permanently because this at its core is about public safety. People should be able to walk to school, push a buggy, use the local park, or simply step outside their front door without fear.”
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Lord Mayor McAdam stressed that the law “must be matched by real enforcement” and its effect should be “felt immediately in our neighbourhoods.” “Tonight I want this council to be united on that message because we owe it to Grace, to her family and to every community across Dublin that has been living with this danger for far too long,” he said.
Another tragic incident occurred on February 5 when a bus crashed at the junction of North Earl Street and Talbot Street in the city centre. Frank Daly, 86, from East Wall died in the incident, which also saw three more injured.
Lord Mayor McAdam extended his condolences to the Daly family and all those who were injured and recovering in hospital. He reflected on the impact the tragedy will have on the “many Dubliners who witnessed that awful event at close quarters” and said he’s personally spoken to people who were on the scene that day whose “lives will never be the same again after what they saw and experienced.”
While investigations into the bus crash are still ongoing, Lord Mayor McAdam said it is incumbent upon all councillors and the executive to “consider what further measures, protections or interventions may be needed to keep Dubliners safe in our pedestrianized spaces.” He commended the work already being done to examine public safety and prioritise locations where “hostile vehicle mitigation measures can be installed.”
“I also welcome that all new public realm projects are being designed with these protective measures in mind from the outset. Delivering a full suite of interventions will require close engagement with the Department of Justice and I will be following up directly with the Minister in the coming days,” he vowed.
The heavy rainfall and flooding seen across the city also left many Dubliners affected in recent weeks and Lord Mayor McAdam commended the dedication and commitment of staff who met the challenges of “successive rain warnings and severe weather advisories.”
“We have seen how other parts of the country have been devastated; Dublin city escaped the worst of what was possible, but we also know that some homes were flooded and businesses affected, and for those families and traders the impact is immediate and very real,” he said.
Lord Mayor McAdam wished to put on record his sincere thanks to “all the crew and officials who worked long hours, often in difficult conditions” to keep the city safe. He commended the quick response on the ground and cautionary measures put in place to keep the citizens of Dublin informed and safe.
A moment of silence was held in tribute to Grace Lynch and Frank Daly in the council chamber at Dublin’s City Hall.
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