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Dublin Live
Dublin Live
National
Dan Grennan

City centre bridge could be lifted each night to stop daily gang fights

The Sean O'Casey Bridge could be lifted each night to stop gangs using the bridge as a location for fights.

The residents in City Quay previously told Dublin Live they are "terrified" to leave their homes after 5pm due to the youths fighting and throwing missiles and fireworks at each other. Such is the extreme nature of the anti-social behaviour, residents have to turn the volume on their TVs all the way to the top in order to hear it.

Sean O'Casey Bridge, which runs from the IFSC to City Quay, has a long history of anti-social behaviour with gangs choosing it as a location for a fight. A 13-year-old boy was hospitalised after being stabbed in the area earlier this year.

Read more: Fed up residents consider human 'blockade' on bridge to stop everyday violence

Locals have been campaigning to find solutions to the violence such as an increased garda presence, CCTV cameras and even considered forming a human blockade of the bridge. Now, councillors have passed a motion to have the bridge raised from 8pm until before commuting hours for six weeks in the hopes it will act as a "circuit breaker".

The bridge can swing apart to allow ships to safety pass by. The remote control that operates the bridge was famously lost by the now defunct Dublin Docklands Development Authority.

It is believed the remote, which is the size of a 1990s mobile phone, was lost in an office move. A replacement remote has since been built.

Sinn Fein Councillor Daniel Ceitinn proposed the motion at the South East Area Committee which was agreed by other Councillors. He said: "The area manager is going to come back to us with regards to how exactly it would work.

"There is a bit of resistance from within the Council to do it. I don't know why. There is no real rationale given. There is really no reason why it shouldn't be done."

In response to the motion, DCC said they were "working proactively with local residents and An Garda Siochana" to resolve the issue and added there are "no plans" to close the bridge "which is used by many people not involved in anti social behaviour" to cross the Liffey.

Cllr Ceitinn said it would mean a "great deal" to the residents if the bridge is lifted. He said: "It shows that the Council is really listening and it acknowledges the torment that they are living through.

"It makes it more difficult for them [the gangs of youths] to get there and once they do gather it makes it more difficult for them to get away from the guards."

When asked if the gangs would go to the next bridge if the Sean O'Casey Bridge was raised, Cllr Ceitinn said: "Talbot Bridge and the Samuel Beckett Bridge both have a degree of public CCTV there already. The problem is the Sean O'Casey Bridge is a blackspot with no public CCTV."

The gardai told Cllr Ceitinn they are looking at installing CCTV on the bridge. There has been no indication that raising the bridge would cost the Council money at present.

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