Carrickmines residents stage blockade to stop opening of a temporary site for f ire victims
RESIDENTS in Carrickmines yesterday staged a ‘ blockade’ preventing the bereaved families of last weekend’s fatal fire from moving into new temporary accommodation.
The Travellers, including family members of some of the fire’s ten victims, were due to move into the new temporary site, close to the scene of the blaze, tomorrow.
But around 25 protesters used a JCB to prevent council work at Glenamuck Cottages, a green area, from getting underway.
The council was attempting to begin work by connecting water and electricity so that mobile homes could move in.
However this work could not proceed because of the blocade by local residents.
Traveller organisation the Southside Trav- eller Action Group said they did not believe the relatives of the fire victims would be able to move to this location.
Director of the group Geraldine Dunne said: ‘I would hope that this situation can be resolved in the best interest of the families in this crisis situation so that they can start to piece their lives back together.’ She also thanked the county council and local residents for their support.
One child, Tom Connors, four, remains in a serious but stable condition in Crumlin hospital. Two other children remain in hospital with injuries.
Five adults and five children died in the fire, including a six-month- old girl and a pregnant woman.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. A member of the Dublin Fire Service has said that it seemed the fire broke out in a prefab and quickly spread.
A minute of silence was held in the Dáil yesterday for the victims of the fire, prior to the announcement of the budget. Enda Kenny extended his sympathies to the survivors for their tragic loss.
Tánaiste Joan Burton said: ‘We grieve with the members of the Travelling community for the loss that the whole community has suffered.’ Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said people across the country were numb from the tragedy.
A national audit of all halting sites is to take place following the fire tragedy.