South Dublin’s local community and the South Dublin County Council are reeling in shock and anger, following the illicit felling of approximately 40 trees overnight. Among these were 20 cherry blossom trees at the height of their bloom, adding a particularly poignant note to the incident. A variety of tree specimens of different ages, including birch, were knocked down in the Dodder Valley Park, Firhouse.
The mayor of South Dublin, Alan Edge, visited the event location and was horrified by the evidently destructive act. His assessment suggested a saw was used to cut down most trees, while others seemed to have been forcefully pulled down or broken. A resident informed Mr. Edge early on a Saturday morning and the act was reported to the local police.
According to Edge, the local community has been deeply upset as the park had recently undergone considerable enhancements. The bewilderment and anger was palpable not just among residents, but also the council and the proprietor of the land, questioning the motives behind the destruction. Considering the cherry blossom season, the timing of the vandalism seemed oddly paradoxical and intensely infuriating to many.
The mayor appealed to the police for a serious investigation into the case, emphasizing its major impact on the community. Previously, there’s been a CCTV installed in the park by the council to deter such antisocial actions, but it was removed earlier this year on the direction of the Data Protection Commission due to a data privacy audit. Edge explained this was because managing antisocial activities isn’t the council’s responsibility but the police’s.
Brian Lawlor, a local representative for the Fine Gael political party, described the incident as terrible, indicating that about 30 of the trees brought down had been planted within the last year and a half. We are yet to receive a comment from the South Dublin County Council.
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