Critics of Slievenamon firefighters come under attack
Public representatives criticise people for taking ‘a cut ‘ off firefighters
Following break- ins to cars belonging to firefighters in Cahir who were working on the Slievenamon fire, Tipperary County Council has been asked to step up security at fire stations.
Fire crews responding to the fire in Slievenamon last Friday returned to Cahir fire station to discover that their cars had been broken into and tools and personal belongings had been taken.
There was a very generous response to a GoFundMe page opened by Artur Bielejewski following the break-in, with over €13,500 raised in a few days.
“These lads are ordinary working men like you and me! Their tools are now gone. Lads are here for us every day no matter the time or weather. If you can, please donate. All the money will be handed over to the Cahir Fire Station,” said the GoFundMe organiser.
At a meeting of Tipperary/Cahir/Cashel Municipal District on Monday, councillors praised the work of all of the fire crews working to deal with the fires on Slievenamon and condemned the break-ins to the cars parked at Cahir Fire Station.
They also called for increased security at the fire station so that the property of crews was protected.
At the meeting Cllr Andy Moloney paid tribute to all of the fire crews that have been working tirelessly to deal with the fires on Slievenamon.
“I commend all of the lads, they left it all on the field,” said Cllr Moloney.
The Cahir councillor also praised the communication strategy of Tipperary County Council that was key to keeping everybody informed.
Cllr Moloney was critical of people who engaged in spreading misinformation on social media platforms and making accusations that pitted one part of the community against the other.
Cllr Moloney said he was very disappointed to hear about the break-ins to cars at the fire station that belonged to fire crews dealing with the fire on Slievenamon.
He asked officials if there was any measures that could be taken to protect the cars of fire crews when they are out on duty.He called on the council to consider using CCTV or providing a secure lockup area for cars so that the vehicles would be safe at fire stations while crews were out working.He said that most of the fire stations in the county had room to provide a secure area for the vehicles of fire crews.
“It is only a small measure for the work they do and it would show them our appreciation for the work they do,” said Cllr Moloney.
Cllr Liam Browne also paid tribute to the fire crews and said everybody could see from the harrowing pictures of Slievenamon what they had to deal with.
“I could see the fire from my yard. You could imagine what people were going through that were living on the mountain,” said Cllr Browne.
Cllr John Crosse said the fire crews and all of the emergency services deserved great credit for the work they did to deal with the fires on Slievenamon.He also praised all of the farmers and contractors who assisted the fire services and said the messaging from Tipperary County Council kept everybody informed.
Cllr Roger Kennedy thanked all of the emergency services who worked on Slievenamon to put out the fires. He praised the fire crews from around the county that responded.
He said it was a pity that such vandalism took place to cars outside the station in Cahir and said it was important that something was put in place that would ensure something like that did not happen again.
Cllr Michael Anglim said the firecrews did great work and all of the farmers and contractors “rolled up their sleeves as well”. For some bodies and individuals to have “ a cut at people giving their all” was wrong.
Chairperson Cllr Marie Murphy said the work everybody did in dealing with the fires was phenomenal. She praised the fire services, the farmers and contractors and the communities in the area, including Killurney, who provided great support.