‘Family fun’ bonfires planned

Organised “family fun” bonfires may be piloted in Co Cork this year in an effort to counter anti-social behaviour which has become part and parcel of such celebrations.

Cllr Michael Hegarty, chairman of the county’s joint policing committee, has asked county council officials to look at the possibility of introducing such events. The move came after it emerged that bonfires organised by Cork City Council had proved a significant success in reducing disturbances at the events which traditionally occur in June and at Halloween.

Mr Hegarty was responding to statistics released by gardaí in the city which showed that organised bonfires were responsible for a significant reduction in bad behaviour.

Gda Sgt Trevor Laffin, who is in charge of community policing in the city, said the introduction of controlled events in the likes of Knocknaheeny, Mahon, Togher and Mayfield had been very successful.

“A few years ago, bonfire nights became a difficult problem and they became used as an occasion for anti-social behaviour. Buses and fire brigade were damaged,” Sgt Laffin said.

He said that in 2009, prior to the introduction of controlled events, gardaí in the city received 200 calls relating to trouble.

“In 2010, that went down to 127 and last year it was 84 so we are making significant progress. For the last two years Bus Éireann didn’t report one incident of damage to their vehicles.”

In previous years, gangs of youths had stoned buses and fire brigades.

Mayor of Passage West Cllr Seamus McGrath said his town had suffered considerably from anti-social behaviour associated with bonfires. He said people often dumped waste on them, which led to harmful fumes. “It’s a major issue and we’re considering a by-law in Passage West to prevent them.”

Fine Gael TD Jerry Buttimer agreed, and said that the county council should work on creating an alternative, safe family-type event.

Mr McGrath said the statistics coming from the events organised in the city “spoke for themselves” and an alternative policy needed to be introduced.

Chief Supt Mick Finn, who is in charge of policing in the city, said organising such events also “needed the goodwill of the public to make it happen”.