Locals are calling for action to be taken against continuing attacks at a North Dublin Dart station. 

Clongriffin Dart Station has been subject to ongoing frequent vandal attacks which have left its lift consistently out of service and locals scared for their safety. 

Multiple assaults and incidents of vandalism have occurred at the station over the past few years, with residents blaming a ‘temporary stairwell’ for attracting anti-social behaviour. 

Clongriffin Dart station 'temporary' stairwell. Image via Google Maps. 21/1/2025.

Spokesperson for Myrtle Coast Residents Association Samantha O’Flanagan told Newstalk Breakfast that this ‘temporary’ stairwell has been in place for the last 15 years. 

“It’s a stairwell that leads from Baldoyle up to the Dart station, and that’s the area that’s being targeted,” she said. 

“It’s owned by a private land developer, so it’s not owned by Irish Rail, which is what’s causing a lot of problems. 

“We’ve had the likes of the Minister for Transport out this time last year, trying to get access sorted for us from Baldoyle, but unfortunately, nothing has come of it yet. 

“We do have some promises from the NTA (National Transport Authority), but as it stands, we are with this temporary stairwell that we have had for the past 15 years.

"It’s just a prime area for antisocial behaviour – it's just getting worse and worse.” 

Public transport

Ms O’Flanagan said she knows ‘Eamonn Ryan is crying out for people to use public transport’, but said Clongriffin Dart station is effectively unusable due to safety concerns. 

“Irish Rail are saying that they aren’t do anything because they don’t own the structure or the land that it’s built on,” she said. 

“Fingal County Council have been involved – they are the ones that control the planning conditions and such like.  

“There was planning conditions put in place for the area with the access to the public transport to be prioritised, and that’s just not happened. They’re now building other houses and apartments and things instead in the area. 

“So, they are involved, but they’re saying that new houses need to be prioritised – but current residents have been waiting 15 years for this access to be put in.” 

New Rental Developments in Clongriffen in North Dublin. Photo: RollingNews.ie. 19/2/2020

According to Ms O’Flanagan, Garda resourcing issues have only compounded the issue. 

“Anytime there’s any issues happening we’ve been onto them for advice on how to deal with things – but they keep saying that they’re under-resourced they don’t have the staff to do it,” she said. 

“I know we’re down to one community Guard and host station, so there’s only one patrol car as well; so you’re put though a kind of triage and you’re seen when it’s able to. 

“There was two people attacked there about six weeks ago and it took about six hours for the Guards to get out to them. 

“The most recent attack was a young schoolboy – so there are people attacked and it’s getting worse and worse.” 

To complicate matters even further, Ms O’Flanagan said that the entrance and inside of the stairwell is covered by Baldoyle Garda station, whereas the exit at the top is covered by Coolock Garda station. 

Ms O'Flanagan said this leads to a "disjointed" service.

Main image: Clongriffin Dart station. Image via Google Maps. 21/1/2025