Parked GAA cars block ambulance
An ambulance transporting an elderly patient found its way blocked by cars parked by GAA fans attending a match in Wexford Park and was forced to reverse back down a congested street to get to Wexford General Hospital. The incident which happened in Whiterock View on Sunday, was highlighted at a Joint Policing Committee of the County Council yesterday (Monday) by Cllr. George Lawlor who described it as very serious matter. After collecting the patient, the ambulance drove up Whiterock View en route to the hospital but at the top of the street, a number of carelessly parked cars left by GAA fans attending a match in the Park, made it impossible to pass. ‘ The ambulance couldn’t get through. This could have been a cardiac arrest, it could have been a fire brigade trying to get to a house fire. There was a delay in the patient getting to hospital,’ said Cllr. Lawlor, adding that the problem has been highlighted on numerous occasions down through the years,. Cllr. Lawlor said there has been a major improvement in Corish Park when long-suffering residents were given Garda cones to place outside their homes on match days. ‘ They have been 100% effective. It means that the Gardai are not being called out and the Council and the GAA themselves are not receiving calls of complaint,’ he said. Cllr. Lawlor said the problem is worse on days when smaller games are held in Wexford Park as on big match days, barriers are erected and gardai and stewards are out in force. Cllr. Anthony Kelly said the issue has been going on for 20 years or more while Cllr. David Hynes said he is awaiting a report from the Borough District Council on traffic management in Whiterock View. Chief Superintendent John Roche who attended the JPC meeting accepted there is a problem in Whiterock View and said gardai will meet with residents there and provide them with cones` to place on one side of the street to prevent blockages on match days in Wexford Park.