Bleeper bikes service returns to Castleknock and Carpenterstown
Approximately €10,000 worth of damage was done to the Bleeper bike fleet this year in Dublin 15, with vandalism and theft rates going 'off the charts' after March 1, according to Steven McGinn, walking and cycling officer with Fingal County Council.
'So, rather than allowing that to progress and potentially put the entire [Bleeper] scheme at risk, we pressed pause in Dublin 15 and removed the bikes while we met with the local gardaí,' he said.
Mr McGinn said this was 'very fruitful' and allowed Bleeper and gardaí to recover 15 of the 28 stolen bikes.
Now the council is ready to progress with the first phase to reintroduce Bleeper bikes to Dublin 15, he told the local area committee yesterday.
'That's going to be around the Castleknock/Carpenterstown area. We're going to monitor that really closely and just make sure that everything is going to plan,' he said.
'Then we're planning to move back out to Hartstown and a few places like that.
'We'll reintroduce the bikes slowly, we'll keep an eye on the scheme and make sure everything's working the way it should. We will hopefully have a full reintroduction of the service in the next four to six weeks.'
Councillor Angela Donnelly said the reintroduction was 'fantastic news'.
'I'm really, really pleased to hear that because the couple of people that came to me, it was their journey from their house to the train station that they really found the Bleeper bikes very useful,' she said.
Fingal residents are entitled to a 'Fingal Pass' with Bleeper bikes, which allows them to cycle pedal bikes free for the first 30 minutes of their journey.
After this period, they will be charged the regular rate of 4c per minute.
The firm also offers e-bike options, with a higher rate of 16c a minute charged for those journeys.
Mr McGinn added that the council was finalising a deal with another bike sharing provider, Moby, to bring their e-bikes to Dublin 15 in the next two weeks.
Moby has also partnered with several other local authorities such as Dublin City Council and Wicklow County Council.
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Irish Independent
a day ago
- Irish Independent
Bleeper bikes service returns to Castleknock and Carpenterstown
Approximately €10,000 worth of damage was done to the Bleeper bike fleet this year in Dublin 15, with vandalism and theft rates going 'off the charts' after March 1, according to Steven McGinn, walking and cycling officer with Fingal County Council. 'So, rather than allowing that to progress and potentially put the entire [Bleeper] scheme at risk, we pressed pause in Dublin 15 and removed the bikes while we met with the local gardaí,' he said. Mr McGinn said this was 'very fruitful' and allowed Bleeper and gardaí to recover 15 of the 28 stolen bikes. Now the council is ready to progress with the first phase to reintroduce Bleeper bikes to Dublin 15, he told the local area committee yesterday. 'That's going to be around the Castleknock/Carpenterstown area. We're going to monitor that really closely and just make sure that everything is going to plan,' he said. 'Then we're planning to move back out to Hartstown and a few places like that. 'We'll reintroduce the bikes slowly, we'll keep an eye on the scheme and make sure everything's working the way it should. We will hopefully have a full reintroduction of the service in the next four to six weeks.' Councillor Angela Donnelly said the reintroduction was 'fantastic news'. 'I'm really, really pleased to hear that because the couple of people that came to me, it was their journey from their house to the train station that they really found the Bleeper bikes very useful,' she said. Fingal residents are entitled to a 'Fingal Pass' with Bleeper bikes, which allows them to cycle pedal bikes free for the first 30 minutes of their journey. After this period, they will be charged the regular rate of 4c per minute. The firm also offers e-bike options, with a higher rate of 16c a minute charged for those journeys. Mr McGinn added that the council was finalising a deal with another bike sharing provider, Moby, to bring their e-bikes to Dublin 15 in the next two weeks. Moby has also partnered with several other local authorities such as Dublin City Council and Wicklow County Council. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Heartbroken family of Debs crash teen appeal killer driver's seven-year ‘insult' sentence for horror 121kph crash deaths
THE family of Debs crash victim Kiea McCann have confirmed they have appealed the seven-year sentence handed to killer driver Anthony McGinn. Best pals Kiea, 17, and Dlava Mohammed, 16, died when the Advertisement 2 The seven-year sentence handed to killer driver Anthony McGinn is being appealed by one of the victim's family Credit: Pacemaker Press 2 Kiea McCann and Dlava Mohammed died in the crash in Co Monaghan in 2023 Credit: RTE Collect McGinn, 61 - a pal of Kiea's family - offered to chauffeur the teens to their school debs. He had been doing Reckless McGinn was He also admitted to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm - as Dlava's sister Avin, 19, suffered life-altering injuries. Advertisement Read more in News The McCanns blasted the 'pathetic' jail sentence handed to killer driver McGinn, fuming that he was only jailed for seven years while they have lost their daughter for life. They felt the sentence wasn't tough enough and McGinn got off lightly. The grieving family have now confirmed they have written to the Director of Public Prosecutions asking him to appeal the sentence - and to seek a longer jail time for McGinn. Kiea's dad Frankie McCann said they feel they did not get justice. Advertisement Most read in Irish News Exclusive Mr McCann said: 'It is not a sentence of seven years, it's an insult to a family. It is an insult to our family, it's an insult to the Mohameds. 'They don't live in our houses, they don't see the carnage afterwards. Nearly two years has passed now and it is worse today than the day it happened.' Schoolgirl best friends died holding hands in horror crash He confirmed they have asked the DPP to appeal and to seek a harsher sentence for the driver who caused the two heartbreaking deaths. Kiea's sister Michaela slammed the jail sentence after it was handed down, saying: "Seven years? For taking away two precious lives? It's like the justice system is spitting in the face of everything we hold dear. Advertisement 'BLOOD IS BOILING' "How can they put a price on human life and come up with such a pathetic sentence? My blood is boiling. "Every single day, I'm haunted by the thought of my sister and her best friend, their futures stolen, their laughter silenced, all because of one person's reckless actions. "And now, this person gets to walk out in seven years? It's a slap in the face, a cruel joke, and an insult to their memory." She continued: "The anger is consuming. I feel like screaming, like breaking something, anything to release this overwhelming rage. The injustice of it all is unbearable. Advertisement "How can we let someone who committed such a heinous crime get away with a sentence that's barely a slap on the wrist? The thought of him living, breathing, while my sister and her best friend are gone forever is enough to make me lose my mind. 'NEVER-ENDING NIGHTMARE' "It's a never-ending nightmare, and the justice system has become the villain in my story. "This sentence isn't a betrayal. It's a message that says some lives are worth less than others. It's a devastating blow to my family, who will never be the same. "We are left with a gaping hole in our hearts, a void that can never be filled, while the person responsible gets to continue living. The anger will linger, a constant reminder of the system's failure and the pain we must endure." Advertisement GUILTY PLEA McGinn had pleaded guilty to causing the girls' deaths by dangerous driving and causing Avin serious bodily harm. In a heartbreaking victim impact statement, Kiea's mum Teresa told how she 'trusted' McGinn to take her daughter to the leaver's ball. She said: 'When we got to the scene, Kiea was already gone. Her dad tried CPR on her. Nothing would bring her back. 'Kiea and her best friend were robbed of their lives. They were put side by side holding hands on the grass as me and my husband lay beside them.' Advertisement 'SLOW DOWN' Front seat passenger Oisin Clerkin had asked McGinn to 'slow down' but the driver did not respond. Kiea's debs date Oisin, who escaped the smash with non-life threatening injuries, later told cops: 'He was driving really fast and it scared me. 'None of the girls said anything. Kiea looked scared. I said 'Goodbye' to Kiea and I woke up in hospital.'
Irish Independent
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- Irish Independent
Cork's lifeguards are back patrolling the beaches as bathing season gets underway
Corkman It's always a welcome sign that summer has arrived: County Cork's lifeguards will be back on the beaches this weekend in their distinctive yellow and red outfits, playing a vital role in keeping swimmers and paddlers safe. This year's bathing season kicks off for Cork County Council's Beach Lifeguard Teams on the June Bank Holiday Weekend with the guards on duty at 12 of the county's beaches from 10.30am until 7.00pm, starting on Saturday May 31. The lifeguarded beaches are Front Strand, Claycastle and Redbarn in Youghal, Garryvoe, Fountainstown, Inchydoney, Owenahincha, The Warren, Garrylucas, Garretstown, Tragumna and Barleycove. And when you're at the beach it's easy to know whether a lifeguard is on duty because you'll see a red and yellow flag. The lifeguards will be on duty each weekend in June, for seven days a week in July and August, and for the first two weekends in September. They're chosen after a competitive application process, including a swim rescue test, and the successful applicants need to hold a Beach Lifeguard Award from the Irish Water Safety Association and have thorough knowledge of resuscitation methods. It may not be quite as glamorous as "Baywatch" but in return for keeping Cork's busiest beaches safe they can earn close to €20 an hour. Last summer, the county's lifeguards reunited fifteen children with their parents. They're reminding parents and guardians that 'Holding Hands Saves Lives' and to supervise children at all times. They're also asking people not to bring inflatable toys to the beach this summer. Inflatable boats, beds and toys are unsafe to use on open water due to the strong and changeable winds we experience throughout most of the summer. Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Joe Carroll, welcomed the news: 'It is a reassuring sight to see lifeguards patrolling our beaches in County Cork. They are the experts when it comes to tides, weather conditions and the risks. I am encouraging everyone to enjoy our beaches safely this summer, we all have a part to play. Swim at lifeguarded beaches, pay attention to the flags, look out for one another, and listen to the lifeguards.' Beachgoers should also pay attention to the Water Safety Flag system. A red over yellow flag means the lifeguards are on duty. You should swim between the red and yellow flags close and parallel to the shore as this is the area that the lifeguards are patrolling. A red flag means that swimming is not advised and a black and white chequered one marks the area for surfing only. Finally, no flag means there's no lifeguard on duty at the moment. Now all we need is the good weather to continue! Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
