DART drivers are saying, due to fears for their safety, they will not drive past Connolly station after 7 pm on Friday night and over the weekend, unless Irish Rail addresses their concerns.
The drivers, who notified Irish Rail of their intention, are refusing to drive past Connolly following recent attacks in what they are describing as Dublin’s “bandit country.”
According to Independent.ie, drivers believe their lives are in danger as they have been threatened at knifepoint and drugs are allegedly sold on the trains and at stations.
The drivers said they are not equipped to cope with attacks, including the recent row after the Liam Gallagher gig, the hijacking of a train in Clongriffin last month and Thursday’s incident where Italian students were threatened with a gun on a dart from Howth.
According to witnesses, the youth began arguing with the students on the DART from Howth to the city centre. After he got off in Raheny, he then kicked at the train window where an Italian boy was sitting before opening his jacket to reveal the handle of a gun.
Speaking of his experiences, DART driver John Curran said, “When you go north of Connolly, as far as I’m concerned, you’re heading into bandit country and you don’t know what’s going to happen.”
Eric Rooney, the driver of the Clongriffin train when it was attacked said he or possibly a passenger could have been killed when a rock was thrown through a window.
He claims he has also been threatened by a drug addict and flasher with a knife.
An Irish Rail spokesperson said there have been a number of stone-throwing incidents in North Dublin recently and is putting extra security in place.
“It is an issue which unfortunately does grow in the summer months, and we address with targeted security.”
“We have increased our security cover, and are liaising with drivers and their representatives, and reviewing customer feedback, to ensure we can address any concerns.”
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