A PLAYGROUND IN Darndale Park in north Dublin was \u201cdestroyed\u201d by a fire on Saturday, a local TD said.<\/p>\n
Barry Heneghan said the fire was the \u201clatest in a series of attacks on community facilities\u201d across north Dublin this year.<\/p>\n
The playground was officially opened in 2023, where it was welcomed as a \u201csignificant\u201d development for the area in providing a safe place for local children.<\/p>\n
The fire broke out on Saturday afternoon. The fire brigade attended the scene and the matter was reported to garda\u00ed. The cause of the fire is currently unknown.<\/p>\n
Heneghan said the playground was a development fought for by residents, community groups and local representatives. It is the latest in a series of incidents that resulted in serious damage to local amenities in Dublin.<\/p>\n
The TD said he is calling for an increased garda presence in the area and CCTV at \u201chigh-risk\u201d community facilities.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is not just an attack on a playground it is an attack on the whole community,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is our neighbours, families and children who ultimately lose out when facilities like this are destroyed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Playgrounds and local amenities have been targeted in other parts of the city.<\/p>\n
In July, the grounds of Crumlin GAA club were targeted twice in two days<\/a> by criminal damage.<\/p>\n In May, an arson attack on a children\u2019s park<\/a> in Artane in north county Dublin was condemned as \u201cdisgraceful\u201d by two local TDs, including Heneghan.\u00a0<\/p>\n A playground in Oscar Traynor Park in Coolock was subject to a serious arson attack<\/a> in November of last year, and a playground in Diamond Park set alight on Halloween had repairs estimated at around \u20ac300,000<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n