A suggestion at last week’s meeting of Galway Joint Policing Committee that Eyre Square may be closed off during certain hours should not even be considered, a city councillor has claimed.
The suggestion was made three days before last week’s incident in which a student waiting for a bus was struck by a firework which was fired across the Square and which has prompted an intensive Garda investigation.
The student suffered serious injuries in the incident and last evening a GoFundMe page set up to help defray her current and ongoing medical costs was set up in the city.
However, the potential closure of the Square has been dismissed by Cllr John Connolly who believes instead that more intensive policing of the area would deal with any issues of anti-social behaviour and violence.
Cllr Connolly said the square is of too much significance to be deemed a no go area.
“I don’t believe such a prospect should be countenanced. Eyre Square is of historical, cultural, tourism and commercial importance to the city. It provides many visitors with their first and final impression of the city and has played host to significant visitors and occasions that are etched into the memories of the city and its citizens.
“The idea that Eyre Square would be surrounded by temporary fencing excluding the public as occurred at the Spanish Arch previously should not be considered an appropriate solution to the concerns that caused the Chief Superintendent to consider such a suggestion.
“Given the situation, I believe a Fixed Garda presence is warranted in Eyre Square. The local authority could assist in enabling such a presence by providing Gardaí with the use of the predominanatly unused tourist kiosk within Eyre Square as part of a multi-agency approach.
“The knowledge of the facility being within the control of the Gardaí and providing the Gardaí with support for patrols, surveillance and operations could play some part in deterring or limiting the opportunity for anti-social behaviour in Eyre Square.
“I believe the council should contact local Gardaí and advise them of the availibilty of the kiosk to assist them in their duty specifically in relation to the challenge currently faced within Eyre Square as outlined by the Chief Superintendent.
Meanwhile, a major online fundraising effort has begun to assist the young woman injured by a firework in Eyre Square last week with medical expenses now and in the future.
The 19-year-old student from Galway was sitting at a bus stop near the taxi rank at the top of Eyre Square when she was struck in the face by an illegal firework in the early hours of last Friday morning.
Gardaí believe the firework was launched from close to the Tourist Information Kiosk on Eyre Square, across the street from where the woman was sitting.
The Go Fund Me Page “Eyre Square Firework Victim – Medical Treatments” has been set up to help her family fund the cost of the necessary future medical treatments she will require for the serious injuries she has sustained.
Over €5000 of the target amount of €30,000 has already been raised online since the page went live on Monday.
A friend of the victim’s family and involved in the Go Fund Me campaign says there has already been great support for the victim and her family who are facing an uncertain future because of the extent of her injuries.
