Luas damaged by ‘projectile fired at high power' in latest attack on transport workers

Sunday World

10-05-2025

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Dublin Bus services were withdrawn from the Mountjoy Square area of the city after a bus driver was threatened by a man who was holding what appeared to be a gun.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.