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Dublin Live
12-05-2025
- Dublin Live
Luas driver's lucky escape after projectile fired at him
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Siptu wants an urgent meeting with the Government over rising violent antisocial behaviour on the transport network. It is also calling on Transport Minister Darragh O'Brien to follow through on a Fianna Fail commitment to establish a dedicated transport policing service. It comes after a recent incident in which a Luas driver was lucky to escape injury when a "projectile fired at high power" towards him impacted his cab window in the Tallaght area of South Dublin. Siptu transport sector organiser John Murphy said: "We have written to the minister twice in recent months seeking a meeting, this has yet to occur. "Fianna Fail has committed to the establishment of a transport policing service and this must be actioned as a matter of urgency. In the last two weeks, we have seen two very serious incidents on the public transport network in Dublin involving our members. "A Dublin Bus driver [was] threatened at gunpoint in Mountjoy Square in the north inner-city and a projectile [was] fired at high power, hitting a Luas Driver's cab in the Tallaght area. "Both of these incidents could potentially have resulted in serious injury or worse to workers or passengers. "Siptu's Respect Transport Workers campaign has been instrumental in bringing this unacceptable behaviour to national attention. Immediate action must be taken by the Government and the National Transport Authority to put the necessary resources into protecting staff, passengers and the vital services that our communities depend on daily." It is understood the incident took place at the Cookstown Luas stop in Tallaght on May 1. Luas drivers' safety representative Marc Winters, who has been highlighting the need for a public transport police service since 2010, said the latest attack is just one of many. He added: "This is not an isolated incident of antisocial behaviour or threats to drivers. Drivers already have a very stressful job and they're concerned that not enough is being done to protect them. "Recently, drivers have been confronted at toilet facilities based at the end of line. In another recent incident, a male performed a sex act behind a female driver as she drove her tram." Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Irish Daily Mirror
12-05-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Warning issued over rising violence after Luas tram attack in Tallaght
Siptu wants an urgent meeting with the Government over rising violent antisocial behaviour on the transport network. It is also calling on Transport Minister Darragh O'Brien to follow through on a Fianna Fail commitment to establish a dedicated transport policing service. It comes after a recent incident in which a Luas driver was lucky to escape injury when a 'projectile fired at high power' towards him impacted his cab window in the Tallaght area of South Dublin. Siptu transport sector organiser John Murphy said: 'We have written to the minister twice in recent months seeking a meeting, this has yet to occur. 'Fianna Fail has committed to the establishment of a transport policing service and this must be actioned as a matter of urgency. In the last two weeks, we have seen two very serious incidents on the public transport network in Dublin involving our members. 'A Dublin Bus driver [was] threatened at gunpoint in Mountjoy Square in the north inner-city and a projectile [was] fired at high power, hitting a Luas Driver's cab in the Tallaght area. 'Both of these incidents could potentially have resulted in serious injury or worse to workers or passengers. 'Siptu's Respect Transport Workers campaign has been instrumental in bringing this unacceptable behaviour to national attention. Immediate action must be taken by the Government and the National Transport Authority to put the necessary resources into protecting staff, passengers and the vital services that our communities depend on daily.' It is understood the incident took place at the Cookstown Luas stop in Tallaght on May 1. Luas drivers' safety representative Marc Winters, who has been highlighting the need for a public transport police service since 2010, said the latest attack is just one of many. He added: 'This is not an isolated incident of antisocial behaviour or threats to drivers. Drivers already have a very stressful job and they're concerned that not enough is being done to protect them. 'Recently, drivers have been confronted at toilet facilities based at the end of line. In another recent incident, a male performed a sex act behind a female driver as she drove her tram.'
Sunday World
10-05-2025
- Sunday World
Luas damaged by ‘projectile fired at high power' in latest attack on transport workers
The driver's cab window was damaged in the incident that could have caused 'serious injury or worse', SIPTU representatives have claimed The damage to the tram is clearly visable The damage to the tram is clearly visable There have been calls for action after this latest incident There have been renewed calls for a dedicated transport police force after a Luas tram was hit by a 'projectile fired at high power' in the Tallaght area. The driver's cab window was damaged in the incident that could have caused 'serious injury or worse', SIPTU representatives have claimed. Pictures show a jagged round impact mark in the glass window of the tram that occurred just weeks after a Dublin Bus driver was threatened at gun point. SIPTU Transport Sector Organiser, John Murphy, said they were seeking an urgent meeting with the Minister for Transport, Darragh O'Brien, to discuss recent serious incidents of anti-social behaviour on the public transport network. 'We have written to the Minister twice in recent months seeking a meeting, this has yet to occur,' Mr Murphy said. The damage to the tram is clearly visable 'Fianna Fáil has committed to the establishment of a transport policing service and this must be actioned as a matter of urgency. 'In the last two weeks we have seen two very serious incidents on the public transport network in Dublin involving our members. 'A Dublin Bus driver threatened at gun point in Mountjoy Square in the north inner-city and a projectile fired at high power hitting a Luas Driver's cab in the Tallaght area. 'Both of these incidents could potentially have resulted in serious injury or worse to workers or passengers.' Last month the union said it welcomed Dublin Bus support for a transport police force but said they would not return to Mountjoy Square following an incident involving a 'gun'. Dublin Bus representative and National Executive Council member, Stephen Millane, was speaking after management announced that it would support the establishment of a dedicated transport policing service 'The need for a transport policing service based on international best practice is a very real one,' Mr Millane said. 'We look forward to working with all stakeholders to make it a reality in as short a timeframe as possible.' Dublin Bus services were withdrawn from the Mountjoy Square area of the city after a bus driver was threatened by a man who was holding what appeared to be a gun. The incident happened on a Friday night on a Route 13 bus parked at Mountjoy Square as it waited to begin a journey. There have been calls for action after this latest incident News in 90 seconds - 10th May 2025 Mr Murphy said SIPTU's Respect Transport Workers campaign had been instrumental in bringing 'this unacceptable behaviour to national attention'. 'Immediate action must be taken by the Government and the National Transport Authority to put the necessary resources into protecting staff, passengers and the vital services that our communities depend on daily,' Mr Murphy added. SIPTU's Respect Transport Workers campaign recently launched its next phase, which they said, includes a short survey for members of the travelling public to take concerning safety on the public transport network.
RTÉ News
30-04-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
Trade unions to mark International Workers' Day on May Day
Trade unions will mark May Day today which is celebrated as International Workers' Day. A series of events will take place beginning with a meeting of union leaders at Fórsa headquarters for a seminar on the minimum wage. The rate has increased repeatedly in recent years but unions have accused the Government of trying to row back on future commitments. Amid concerns about high business costs, a plan to replace the minimum wage with a new living wage has been delayed by three years to 2029, and a decision on whether to abolish youth sub-minimum rates has been deferred. On International Workers' Day, the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) has called for the immediate abolition of sub-minimum rates of pay. "Today, we're highlighting the urgent need to address the ongoing issue of inadequate pay, which continues to undermine the living standards of ordinary people, already crippled by a cost of living crisis," said Kathryn Walsh, NYCI Director of Policy and Advocacy. The Department of Enterprise has said that it remains committed to fair wages for all workers and has highlighted substantial increases in the minimum wage in recent years that have seen real increases in lower paid workers' wages. May Day rally This evening, the Dublin Council of Trade Unions will hold its annual May Day rally at the Garden of Remembrance which will be followed by a march to Liberty Hall. It will include an open top bus representing SIPTU's Respect Transport Workers campaign which is calling for the establishment of a transport policing service to counteract anti-social behaviour on the public transport network. "May Day is a date for celebrating the victories of the organised workers' movement such as paid holidays, pension provision and sick pay," said SIPTU Head of Strategic Organising and Campaigns, Darragh O'Connor.
Irish Examiner
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Siptu welcomes Dublin Bus support for transport police after knife threat to driver
Trade union Siptu has welcomed the backing of Dublin Bus for a dedicated transport police in Ireland, a week after a bus driver in the city was threatened by a man holding what appeared to be a handgun. The union had instructed its members to withdraw services in the Mountjoy Square area from 7pm in the wake of the incident last Friday, and said that it hoped that such a shocking incident would mark a 'turning point' in the debate around a transport police. 'It must no longer be about whether we should have a transport policing service but rather how it will be established and operated,' sector organiser John Murphy said. 'In relation to Mountjoy Square, the suspension of bus services in that area after 7pm will continue until all the necessary measures are in place to improve security for our members.' It comes after Dublin Bus CEO Billy Hann was quoted in the Irish Times as saying his organised backed a transport police and had lobbied for its creation. Although the Garda commissioner and ministers had long ruled it out, including then-transport minister Eamon Ryan as recently as last October, the Government has said it would press ahead with creating a transport police. In February, justice minister Jim O'Callaghan said the proposed transport police was a priority and emphasised that it must have powers of arrest. 'The reason why we want to bring it forward is that there were experiences, not just in Dublin but throughout the country, of people finding themselves on public transport and not feeling safe, particularly late in the evening,' he said. However, no timeline was set for its introduction. Siptu's Dublin Bus representative and national executive council member Stephen Millan said the union had put forward comprehensive proposals around a transport police service which were then adopted by political parties and included in the Programme for Government. 'It is most welcome that Dublin Bus management announced publicly yesterday that it also supports the establishment of a dedicated transport policing service,' he said. 'The need for a transport policing service based on international best practice is a very real one. We look forward to working with all stakeholders to make it a reality in as short a timeframe as possible.' Mr Murphy added that the volume of incidents reported to Dublin Bus has doubled since the pandemic. 'Our own research in the Respect Transport Workers campaign surveys confirms this increased threat to our members working on buses, trains and other forms of public transport,' he said. Read More Assault of Limerick bus driver underlines need for dedicated transport police, union says
