Audit of Dublin streets being demanded by councillors following fatal bus crash

Sarah Slater

An urgent safety and vulnerability audit of all pedestrianised streets in Dublin city centre is being demanded by several councillors in the aftermath of Thursday’s fatal bus crash, which killed one and injured three other people.

The Independent group of councillors which includes several former Lord Mayors such as Niall Ring and Christy Burke want Dublin City Council’s chief executive Richard Shakespeare “in light of the tragic events on North Earl Street”, to also “identify, report on, and immediately remediate any security gaps or other vulnerabilities” in the Capital’s street infrastructure that could allow a similar tragedy to occur.

The Independent group will be requesting in an emergency motion at the council’s monthly meeting on Monday night to commission and provide a report on the feasibility and timeline for the installation of any permanent measures, such as automated rising bollards.

The group also includes Cieran Perry, Vincent Jackson, Pat Dunne, John Lyons, Kevin Green and Mannix Flynn.

Frank Daly, who was in his 80s, from East Wall Road, was killed in the incident, while the three others in the collision were brought to the Mater Hospital for treatment.

The measure, the councillors believe, will ensure these high-footfall areas are physically secured against unauthorised vehicle entry, accidental or otherwise, at all times.

In a statement, the councillors said that following recent events, there is a “critical requirement to verify the security of all pedestrian zones immediately”.

“This tragedy has exposed a possible infrastructure deficit in the city's pedestrianised network and, therefore, immediate action is required to install temporary physical measures to prevent a repeat occurrence,” the statement added.

In addition, they are calling for an “immediate and pressing need” for the council to “demonstrate leadership” on the safety issue.

“It is important that we provide an immediate and adequate response to a situation that has impacted the public’s sense of safety in our city’s core,” the councillors noted.

“We are submitting this motion on the basis that it meets the criteria for an emergency motion as it concerns an unexpected and potentially dangerous situation requiring immediate action of the council”.