Shocking scenes from the halting site blaze
Protesters are blocking a site intended to be used for temporary housing for the survivors of the Carrickmines fire tragedy.
Local residents of a south Dublin estate have delayed the initial construction stages of a temporary halting site earmarked to house the 15 adults and children left homeless as a result of the tragic Glenamuck fire.
Yesterday, Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown County Council issued a letter to residents informing them that work was to begin on a plot of land in the Rockville Drive estate immediately to accommodate the survivors of Saturday's fire which claimed 10 lives.
However residents have blocked the entrance to the plot of land, preventing a JCB from starting the proposed construction work.
Despite the council’s assurances that the site would only exist for eight months, locals said they did not want it going ahead.
A heartbroken relative of the family who perished in the fire spoke to the Sunday World, saying "They’re all gone" read here.
The Southside Traveller Action Group issued a statement saying they hoped the situation could “be resolved in the best interest of the families”.
Director of the group, Geraldine Dunne, said: “They need to start to piece their lives back together.
“We want to thank the County Council and other agencies and the many local residents who have been so supportive to those affected in these difficult few days.”
Parishioners to raise funds for victims of horror blaze read here.
Environment Minister Alan Kelly said: I think it says an awful lot about Irish society and in a very disturbing way."
"The nation is heartbroken about what happened last weekend, We have responsibility for communities, we have responsibility for traveller housing I have responsibility for fire services and we are very much across this issue.
"To get the news that this site is being blockaded and we’re trying to get this delivered for Thursday and I gave the families my word it would be delivered and the local authority would move heaven and earth to ensure these families will be accommodated, to find out that this has happened was extremely disappointing and I’m being polite in saying that.
"We have identified another site which we are working on, and the fact that we have to do that, I think it says an awful lot about Irish society and in a very disturbing way.
"Collectively our hearts go out to this family. I visited a young boy whose family has been taken away from him and to think that people have blocked the entry to this [alternative] site given what that family has gone through is very disturbing and shameful."
Thomas and Sylvia Connors, three of their children Jim (5), Christy (2) and five-month-old Mary all died in the fire at a halting side on Saturday night.
The 10 members of extended family wiped out in horrific blaze read here.