‘Covid-19 lockdowns were too much for my son’ GRIEVING MUM: DON’T TAKE KIDS FOR GRANTED
CITY CYCLE: Bike bunker
Councillors will be informed at a meeting of the council’s traffic and transport committee next week that lessons learned from the scheme to date show that Dublin City Council does not have sufficient staff resources to progress the scheme or to maintain it.
Council officials will tell elected representatives that the situation “is unlikely to change.”
Twelve bike bunkers – secure hangars that can accommodate around six bicycles each – are located around Dublin in such areas as Portobello and Stoneybatter.
THE heartbroken mother of a young teenage boy who took his own life has blamed Covid-19 lockdowns for destroying children’s lives and urged parents not to take time with their kids for granted.
The sudden death of 14-year-old Ryan Whelan Griffin at his home in Duleek, Co Meath, last year left the community reeling and his family devastated.
His parents Rebecca and Shane and younger brother Dylan are still desperately searching for answers they will probably never get as to why their bubbly and popular cherished son and brother died.
Since his death on February 2, 2022 Rebecca has been fundraising to thank Pieta House for its help through their tragic time and has also sent her huge appreciation to the people of Duleek, who dropped food and cards attheir door in an outpouring of support.
As Rebecca prepares to undertake an abseil for Pieta House this weekend, she urges parents not to take time with their children for granted and listen.
Ryan, who was a second-year student at Drogheda Grammar School and an avid fan of Drogheda United, was wellknown in the village for his love of his “best friend” and dog Bailey.
Indeed, after his passing the Premier Division side were among those to pay tribute to one of their “great young fans”.
“We don’t know what happened to Ryan and we will probably never know,” said his mum Rebecca.
“I think it was a moment of madness. I think children live in the moment and never take time to see that there is a way out of everything. To be honest I was shocked at the amount of friends that he did have when I went through his friend groups on the phone.
“Ryan was a bundle of fun, very outgoing, very caring and very deep. He hated to upset anyone. We are all struggling through every day now. Dylan started secondary school and I really found that emotional.
“Shane continued coaching the U16 soccer team in Duleek with which Ryan had been playing since he was about seven years old. The teammates have taken it so hard too. He was so popular, his death has caused ripples of sadness out to so many people and places.
“The house is really quiet, the dog pines for him. It’s just so tough.
Doorstep
“Ryan was so well known around the village with his dog Bailey that when he died, people who didn’t know us and only knew Ryan because he was always out with Bailey, were leaving dog biscuits on our doorstep.”
Rebecca began a Darkness into Light event in aid of Pieta House this year — along the route, which will be sanctioned as an official route next year, her boys used to walk Bailey.
“Pieta House was a huge support to us. They offered us and the boys in the football team counselling and talks and provided the family with a bereavement liaison officer who went above and beyond to see what we needed.”
Anyone who would like to donate towards Rebecca’s abseil this weekend can do so at: www.idonate.ie/ fundraiser/RebeccaGriffin56
For confidential help or support, visit the Samaritans website or call 116 123 for free.