Senior citizens in the area are devastated by the loss of their bus which they relied on for their ‘Meals On Wheels’ and summer trips.
The bus belonged to the Daughters of Charity and had been parked in the grounds of the complex. Residents of a senior citizens’ complex in Kilmore West are reeling this week following yet another vicious attack by thugs.For the second time in less than two months, vandals have targeted Kilbarron Court, this time burning out a mini-bus used to transport the elderly.
Only six weeks’ ago The Northside People reported on a similar incident at the same complex when two cars, side by side, were burnt out in another malicious attack. Senior citizens in the area are devastated by the loss of their bus which they relied on for their ‘Meals On Wheels’ and summer trips.
The bus belonged to the Daughters of Charity and had been parked in the grounds of the complex.
Sr Andre, who works with the senior citizens in the area, said it was extremely sad what had happened.
“We were caught on the hop,” she said. “It was totally unexpected. Some of the senior citizens we collect to bring them to Meals on Wheels had to make their own way.”
Sr Andre said they will now be relying on local people in the community to help them out voluntarily until they work out how they are going to replace the bus.
“We also used the bus for social outings, especially in the summer, and going out to the cinema and theatre in the evenings,” she revealed.
“I think the worst part for the senior citizens is that the bus held an awful lot of memories for them and now they’ve gone up in smoke.”
Sr Andre said that the blaze occurred around 4am last Tuesday morning.
“We’ve always had it parked in the complex and thought it was safe there,” she said.
One resident of the complex, who did not wish to be named, said they are deeply shocked by the loss of their bus.
“It was a very important asset and we’re all very disappointed,” he said. “I think there should be some CCTV put into the complex and that might help the situation.
“We could also do with more gardai on patrol although I understand that they can’t be here all the time.”
The man said that with two incidents taking place in the space of six weeks on their doorsteps, the residents are now worried about their security.
“I would ask these individuals to stop and consider what they are doing,” he said. “It could be their own grandmother in one of these complexes.”
Artane ward councillor Sean Paul Mahon (FF) described the thugs as “mindless”.
“I was totally shocked and appalled to learn that Kilbarron Court’s bus had been burnt out,” he said. “Frankly it is beyond me how someone could embark on such a callous act.
“I visited the residents on Tuesday morning and the mood was understandably one of disbelief and anger.”
