Latest news with #AndrewQuigley
The Journal
14-07-2025
- The Journal
Bus Éireann suspended routes in Drogheda last Friday night after bus windows were smashed
BUS SERVICES IN Drogheda were temporarily suspended after the windows of a bus were smashed by teenagers. It's the second time in a matter of weeks that serious concerns have been raised over the services by trade union Siptu. Last month, local representatives sought meetings with Bus Éireann management after one worker was allegedly attacked at a depot. The incident was reported to gardaí who later made an arrest in connection with the matter. The latest incident saw services withdrawn last Friday night after a group of youths 'smashed a window' and 'punched and kicked' a bus in the town,' according to Siptu organiser Andrew Quigley. Advertisement Following the second incident, protocols that have been agreed between Siptu and management were activated and services in Drogheda were suspended for approximately three hours from 5.30pm to 8.30pm on Friday evening. 'Only last month, SIPTU members in Drogheda raised serious concerns relating to anti-social behaviour which were the focus of discussions with management,' Quigley said. 'We are working proactively with management and other stakeholders to try our best to address these recurring incidents. However, our members are clear that the worsening problem of anti-social behaviour and abuse on the public transport network necessitates the Government moving on its commitment to establish a dedicated transport policing service.' Siptu sector organiser for transport services, John Murphy, said the union firmly believes that the solution to the 'crisis of anti-social behaviour' on public transport network is the creation of a standalone transport policing service. 'The Government has accepted our case on this issue and included the creation of such a body in its Programme for Government. Our members stand ready to work with all stakeholders to make the creation of such a service a reality in as short a time frame as possible,' Murphy said. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Sunday World
26-06-2025
- Sunday World
Anti-social incidents on Drogheda bus service raise ‘serious concerns'
SIPTU want to meet with the Gardaí to discuss the increase in incidents Anti-social incidents on Bus Eireann's services in the Drogheda are have raised 'serious concerns', SIPTU have said. Representatives from the union are set to meet management from Bus Éireann to discuss the 'adverse impact' of anti-social behaviour following a marked increase in issues, particularly at the town's main bus depot. It comes after SIPTU members in the County Louth town raised concerns about the behaviour on late-night and early-morning services. Stock photo News in 90 Seconds - June 26th 'These incidents occur across services, but more specifically, there has been an issue resulting from gangs of youths preventing buses from leaving the depot, which has caused major delays,' SIPTU Organiser, Andrew Quigley, said. 'Last week, SIPTU wrote to the company requesting that it convene a meeting with union representatives to discuss what measures must be taken to ensure the continued operation of these vital community transport services. Mr Quigley added that while an agreement has been made to discuss the issue with management at the transport provider, they will be seeking to meet with the Gardaí. 'We will also be seeking a larger meeting of all the relevant stakeholders, including the Gardaí, service users and elected representatives. 'However, it is our members' firm belief that the issue of worsening anti-social behaviour and abuse on the public transport network necessitates the establishment of a transport policing service.' Meanwhile, SIPTU Sector Organiser, John Murphy, branded the issues as a 'crisis' as he called for a standalone transport police service. 'SIPTU has been calling for the introduction of such a service as part of our Respect Transport Workers campaign,' he said. 'The Government has accepted our case on this issue and included the creation of such a body in its Programme for Government. Our members stand ready to work with all stakeholders to make the creation of such a service a reality in as short a time frame as possible.' Mr Murphy added that services must, and will continue, to operate in all communities as they try to resolve the issue. 'We believe the engagement with stakeholders to immediately bring greater safety for workers can be done in tandem with the work necessary to establish the foundations of the new transport policing service.' Last month, Gardai carried out spot checks on Dublin Bus over the bank holiday weekend in a bid to reduce the number of anti-social behaviour incidents on the service. In 2024, there were 1,054 incidents of anti-social behaviour on Dublin Bus reported, more than doubling since 2019.
Irish Independent
18-06-2025
- Irish Independent
Threats of violence could trigger suspension of bus services in Limerick, union warns
Siptu organiser Andrew Quigley said he received numerous reports of increased levels of anti-social behaviour on Bus Éireann's route 303 service in recent days. The incidents include young people throwing stones at bus windows and workers being subjected to verbal abuse and threats of violence. Mr Quigley claimed some incidents are not being reported due to delayed responses from gardaí as a result of high levels of demand on their resources. 'Our members are raising serious concerns about their safety and well-being while operating this route,' he said. He called on Bus Éireann to hold meetings with all stakeholders, including trade unions, the local authority and gardaí, to work on eliminating the threat to passengers and workers. Siptu has written to the company to request an urgent meeting to discuss the incidents. Mr Quigley said there was serious damage to buses and endangerment of workers in recent days. 'If action is not taken to deal with what is a long term and recurring issue on this route then our members will be forced to suspend services,' he said. 'This is something they do not wish to do as they fully understand the detrimental impact which it has on the local community.' Siptu sector organiser John Murphy said the solution to a crisis of anti-social behaviour on the public transport network is the creation of a standalone transport policing service. The union has called for the introduction of this service as part of a Respect Transport Workers campaign. Mr Murphy said the Government has included this objective in its Programme for Government. 'Our members stand ready to work with all stakeholders to make the creation of such as service a reality in as short a time frame as possible,' he said. 'However, prior to this goal being achieved services must continue to operate in all communities. We believe the engagement with stakeholders to immediately bring greater safety for workers can be done in tandem with the work necessary to establish the foundations of the new transport policing service.'
RNZ News
26-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
'Massive' hay shed fire cost Canterbury company up to $1.5 million
Photo: Supplied / Quigley Contracting A Canterbury business owner is absolutely gutted after more than half of his winter feed went up in flames. A fire destroyed more than 12,000 bales of hay as it tore through two sheds at Quigley Contracting in Winslow, about 10 kilometres southwest of Ashburton, on 14 May. Dozens of firefighters tackled the blaze and work continued on operations for four days until what was left of the bales was cleared, covered and capped in a large pit. Quigley Contracting owner Andrew Quigley said it was the most significant loss to the business since it started 22 years ago. He first received a call about the fire shortly before midnight on 14 May. "It was massive," he said. "It's sort of scary - those first few hours, just not knowing whether it is going to spread or another puff of wind is going to come up, and the risk to residential properties around us was probably the biggest concern. Photo: Supplied / Quigley Contracting "We were trying to save every bit of stock we could, and we were moving bales of straw around with our own machinery, just trying to eliminate the risk of further spread. "It was a very, very scary experience." The fire started in one shed and spread to the other shed after burning for 30 to 40 minutes, Quigley said. The damage cost the business between $1.2 milllion and $1.5 million. "It's a significant and huge loss to us," he said. "A lot of the product was pre-sold across New Zealand to different customers. It's probably 50 to 60 percent of our stock that we had on hand lost." Quigley was grateful other contractors and farmers had come forward with offers of feed after the fire. "We're working through that at the moment, but it's looking like we'll have enough product to be able to look after our customers," he said. Photo: Supplied / Quigley Contracting It was not the first time a fire had hit his business with the same site affected four years ago, Quigley said. "It started in a shed, sort of similar. Starting at around two-and-a-half thousand bales and spread," he said. After that fire, water curtains were installed in the sheds and had prevented this fire from being worse. "Those water curtains in the shed worked well; we saved... two sheds that probably would've gone up as well," Quigley said. "So obviously I'm happy with the improvements we've made, but absolutely gutted with all the systems and processes we've put in place that similar events happened." While the cause of the fire had not been determined, Quigley said he suspected it was caused by spontaneous combustion, which was the cause of fire four years ago. Fire and Emergency said the investigation was ongoing.
RNZ News
15-05-2025
- General
- RNZ News
FENZ to investigate cause of fire that burnt thousands of hay bales near Ashburton
Photo: RNZ / Nathan McKinnon A fire investigator will examine the cause of a fire that has burnt through 14,000 hay bales south of Ashburton in Canterbury. The blaze broke out in two hay sheds housing 214,000 bales at Andrew Quigley Contracting in Winslow shortly before midnight on Wednesday. FENZ incident controller Carrie Swanson said the fire had been contained but 50 firefighters remained on site. She said it was too early to assess the full extent of the damage or how many bales had been destroyed. "Crews are working really hard to make sure that the exposures are protected, so that's other assets and buildings that are nearby, just to make sure that no embers are transporting onto those," she said. Swanson said heavy machinery was being brought in to remove the bales and crews expected to be there for the next day or two. It was not yet clear how the fire started, she said. Photo: RNZ / Nathan McKinnon Ashburton district councillor Rob Mackle saw smoke coming from the business the morning. He said Quigley was well-respected in Ashburton and the farming community. "It's a large contracting business, employs a number of staff, and they will be out there helping Andrew at the moment," she said. "There'll be a massive cleanup for him going ahead, but it is a great community here, they'll all be pitching in to help I imagine." Ashburton mayor Neil Brown was at the scene working a day shift for the fire brigade, Mackle said. He said he assumed the fire was caused by combustion, although that was yet to be determined. "If you put hay into a shed, there's always an element of risk of it heating up and catching alight. There is always that risk, but you do your best to mitigate that," he said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
