Dublin South East Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Residents to Consider Shutting Down Site

Published: 9 February, 2004

Sinn Féin Representative for Dublin South East Daithí Doolan, speaking ahead of a public meeting in Ringsend tonight, has called on Danniger Developers not to resume work on their site in Barrow Street until "local residents are totally confident that no further crane accidents will occur on their site.

Residents are angry and worried at the way Danniger have conducted themselves. They have continued to ignore the local residents since last week's crane accident. I will be supporting the residents in whatever decision they make and whatever course of action they choose to take. One such action is that we may well shut down the site with local protests. It is unfortunate it may come to this but Danniger's behavior may give us no other option.

This site appears to be a danger to all. On this site there are nine cranes similar to the one that collapsed last week with hundreds of people living in close proximity. The least we should expect is that Danniger meet the residents face to face and give a guarantee that such an accident will not happen again.

I am calling on the Health and Safety Authority to publish the report on the circumstances of the accident with an independent engineer examining the report and a direct meeting with Danniger's Liam Carroll. Nothing less that this will satisfy either myself or the residents."

Doolan concluded by claiming that "a line has been drawn in the sand, developers will have to learn that they must consult with residents and not simply bully or ignore them. We will make sure that does not happen here in Ringsend."