Residents object to Hill 16 extension

RESIDENTS who say their lives are a nightmare because of crowds coming out of Croke Park are to object to a planned extension to Hill 16.

"We will continue the protest until Croke Park agrees to meet us and sort out the problem," said Maura Butterly, a spokesperson for The Street Association, recently formed to represent residents of Foster Terrace and St James Avenue.

The group say a dangerous bottleneck develops when 28,000 fans leave the Cusack Stand and pack these two narrow streets where they live. They fear for themselves, their children and fans, particularly in the event of a panic or an emergency.

They intend to lodge a planning appeal this week against Hill 16, favoured haunt of fervent Dublin football supporters, being extended to accommodate 5,500 extra fans giving Croke Park a capacity of 84,500.

On both Saturday and Sunday, to coincide with the two All-Ireland matches being played at the venue, members of the group assembled with placards outside the Cusack Stand calling for "fair play".

They claim GAA officials reneged on agreements with local people to provide a third exit out of the Cusack stand to allow safer dispersal of supporters after matches. "In the light of disasters at Hillsborough, Heysel and Ibrox, we find it incredible that the GAA and the city council's fire department allow over-crowding outside the gates," a spokesperson said.

Local resident David Fennell said: "We are prisoners in our own homes. During the last Tipperary v Clare hurling game a guy had his hand smashed and the ambulance couldn't get in."

Resident Katie MacAndrew remarked: "This would not happen in Ballsbridge. It's just because we live in Ballybough that we have got no response."

"(Fans) can't pass my window but they're banging on my door, but I get nothing from Croke Park not even a ticket. We can't move in or out with the crowds," said Mrs Lena Blake, a long-time resident.

Mrs Maureen Kirwan said: "What can we do about it? They've been coming here longer than we were here and will be coming after we're gone. When the gates (to the Cusack Stand) are open they go in. But it's when they're coming out that the hassle begins."

GAA spokesman Danny Lynch said they dealt with the Croke Park Area Residents Alliance, which represents five residents associations in the district. He added: "We can't deal with every layman who has a point of view about what should and should not be done. We've never heard of this new grouping. We can't deal on an ad hoc basis with every individual who expresses a point of view. This is a group that just appeared out of nowhere for some purpose."