Taxis blacklist no-go areas after Tullamore attacks

Almost 30 taxis in Tullamore are refusing to drive into certain areas of the town over Hallowe"en because of attacks on cars and drivers. Drivers are withdrawing services to St Columba"s Place, Tara Crescent, Cloncollig and Arden View, from 6pm on Friday October 31 until 6am on Monday November 3. And local Gardaí are adopting a 'zero-tolerance' approach to any anti-social behaviour in the same areas. They"re already out on nightly patrol, confiscating fireworks and bangers. 'We"re urging parents to take responsibility, to look after their kids, know where they are. There will be a strong garda presence from now until Hallow"een and we"re taking a zero-tolerance approach,' said Sgt Graham Kavanagh, a Community Officer in Tullamore. Emergency services are also considering whether Garda escorts would be required for the fire service personnel on Hallowe"en night as occurred last year. Meanwhile, taxi drivers say that gangs of up to ten youths, ranging in age from seven years up to 18, and even young men in their 20s, are attacking taxis with rockets, bangers and stones, with increasing regularity. On Wednesday, the Tullamore Taxi Drivers" Association released a safety notice, saying their decision to list no-go zones was taken 'due to safety concerns to both our property, drivers and our customers'. Customers will instead have to arrange an alternative pick-up point with a driver. 'One driver had two stones thrown at him at the weekend, one hit the car, the other hit him on the head,' said Jack Doyle a member of the Tullamore Taxi Drivers Association. 'There"s attacks happening in Cloncollig and in Columba"s nearly every weekend, Arden View, coming closer to Hallow"een is not very nice.' Continued on Page 5