The damaged caused to a truck in March after vandals threw down sandbags from an overpass near Farranfore.
A COUNCILLOR has called for action after the recent dangerous incidents by vandals on flyovers.
Cllr Pat McCarthy (FG) called for the installation of covert cameras on these bridges to stop people from dropping stones and sandbags onto vehicles.
The latest serious incident occurred on March 3 when a father and son were lucky to escape serious injury or worse, when two large sandbags smashed into the windscreen of their truck and into the top of the cab, while travelling under the overpass on the Tralee/Killarney Road a few miles from Farranfore (click here for previous story).
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“This motion refers to action taken by silly and stupid people,” said Cllr McCarthy. “Their actions are extremely dangerous and in the last occasion their actions could have resulted in the deaths of two people,” he said.
Cllr McCarthy wondered if wire-mesh barriers could be erected as they have been on bridges in Dublin and in other countries like Australia and New Zealand.
“I presume it’s young people doing this and not old age pensioners. These actions highly dangerous and every effort should be made by the Gardaí and anyone who would even suspect the young people involved, to report it to Gardaí before someone is killed,” said Cllr McCarthy.
In reply, Council Management said there are six flyovers in the county and the installation of cameras would prove extremely difficult given the extent of the areas required to be covered by the camera, the increased level of lighting to enable video to be clearly recorded and the cost of bringing electricity to what are effectively remote locations.
They said issues such as this are appropriate for consideration at the Joint Policing Committee meeting where Gardai may be able to advise on the frequency of the incidents and what actions the Council would be appropriate in addressing the dangerous behaviour.
