‘One day a child will be playing on the green or climbing on the wall and there will be a fatality’

Concerned residents of a housing estate in Donacarney are warning that children's lives are at risk unless action is taken to introduce safety measures and repair an inadequately built wall separating the estate from the road that has resulted in a number of accidents and near misses.

Co-Chairman of the residents association Oliver Mullen (80), moved to the Castle Glen estate on the Garra Road between Donacarney and Mornington to live closer to his daughter and her family but instead of enjoying time with his grandchildren he is constantly worried for their safety.

The latest collision happened just last week when a car smashed into the wall completely demolishing part of it. 

“The wall outside the estate was poorly built by the developer who should have built it higher to make is stronger and to prevent children from climbing on it. There have been multiple crashes over the years with trees and lampposts knocked into the green.

Part of the wall outside the Castle Glen estate has been left in ruins

“Just last week a car crashed into the wall and debris flew all over the green. If there had been a child there or someone getting into their car they could have been seriously injured. The wall should be raised or bollards put outside so that the wall cannot be hit by a vehicle.

“One day a child will be playing on the green or climbing on the wall and there will be a fatality. 

“I asked the council if they were interested in the safety of the residents and I was told that we could build a wall ourselves. How are working-class people and young families who are already struggling meant to afford that?

Apart from the issue regarding the height of the wall, road safety concerns are also a factor,  

“At one part of the wall, there is a 50km speed limit, the part where vehicles usually crash is 60km and then it increases to 80km at a sharp bend, it's ridiculous, it should all be 50km.

“When I used to visit my daughter before I moved here, I'd put the grandchildren on the wall to wave at the cars coming around the bend, now I look back at that in horror knowing what a deathtrap it is.”

A resident who didn't want to be named said that she can't let her child out to play on the green anymore. 

Residents say children will continue to be in danger unless safety measures at Castle Glen are applied  

“The kids can't play outside because if a vehicle speeds up and the road is wet and a car flips over a child will be killed. A few years ago, a child's leg was injured by a car that crashed into the wall and clipped them. At one point there were three accidents here in the space of ten days.

Cllr Stephen McKee is calling for Meath County Council to step in urgently.  

“At a recent meeting of Laytown/Bettystown Municipal District, I called for a motion that Meath County Council take action in addressing road safety issues across East Meath.

“We need to have a road safety audit to include a review of speed limits, road signage and the implementation of adequate measures to improve safety. Speed limits on roads in East Meath have been increased in the last six months, this needs to be reviewed. Crash barriers need to be installed and the wall raised in height to protect the residents in Castle Glen.” 

Meath County Council has been contacted for comment.