Dublin City councillor Daryl Baron has called for An Garda Síochána to visit schools and warn young people against vandalism after a series of destructive incidents targeting children’s playgrounds across the city.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio, Councillor Baron, chairperson of Dublin City Council’s North Central Area Committee, described vandalism at Oscar Traynor Park playground in Coolock on Sunday night as “absolutely appalling” and part of a worrying trend of anti-social behavior among youth.
€100,000 Damage at Coolock Playground
The damage to the Coolock playground is estimated at up to €100,000, representing a significant blow to community facilities. Baron alleged that “senseless criminals” are carrying out the destruction to gain attention on social media platforms such as TikTok.
The Oscar Traynor Park incident is not isolated. Baron pointed to recent vandalism at new public toilets in St Anne’s Park, as well as damage to playgrounds in Harmonstown and Kilmore, suggesting a pattern of targeted destruction of public amenities.
CCTV and Education Needed
The councillor urged Dublin City Council to seriously consider deploying CCTV technology to protect public facilities built with taxpayer money. He emphasized that a combination of education against anti-social behavior and robust surveillance systems is essential to tackle the problem.
“These are disgusting acts that are destroying facilities meant for children,” Baron said, stressing the need for Garda intervention in schools to educate young people about the consequences of vandalism and anti-social behavior.
The call comes as communities across Dublin express frustration over repeated damage to parks, playgrounds and public amenities, with repair costs diverting resources from other community projects.