At the time
of writing this week’s article, there was news filtering through about yet
another possible terrorist attack in the London Borough of Finsbury Park. This
latest attack appears to have targeted the Muslim community, during the period
of Ramadan. Early accounts indicate, that a lone male deliberately drove a rented
white van, down a cul de sac, mowing down people who were gathering for a
post-prayer evening supper. The driver of the van was, by eye witness accounts,
heroically tackled by members of the public and subsequently arrested, after
being detained in hospital.
London and
her people have suffered tremendously in the last few weeks and I hope that
there are many lessons to be learned. I do fear that in relation to the
Grenfell Tower, the shutters will be raised and wagons circled by the Council
of Kensington and Chelsea. Officialdoms’ lips will be sealed, as people and
members of the public start to ask what horrid set of circumstances could have lead
to the unnecessary, high loss of so many innocent lives? The death toll is
bound to rise in the coming days, as emergency services sift through the
charred remains of flats.
The
devastation and ferocity of the fire must mean that many of the remaining
victims of this inferno will only be identified by dental records or DNA
profiling. Once the painstaking process of accessing and examining each
individual flat is complete, there are reports that over 100 people could have
died last week, in Grenfell Tower.
Here in
Waterford and in general across the majority of Ireland we, thankfully, do not
have such density of high rise accommodation blocks. Those that do exist, will
I imagine, be immediately examined by local councils and checked for
appropriate fire safety, correct fire wall protection, early warning smoke alarms,
sprinkler systems etc. Failure to act as a result of what has happened in
London would be criminal, in any sense of the word.
However,
such is the “Protection” around local council ivory towers, that many will feel
that they do not need to do any more. Because as far as they are concerned,
they are already doing just enough and they will not spend another penny unless
they absolutely have to.
I wrote
about “Golden Circles” and “BIG tubes” last week. In closed offices and behind
tightly locked doors there will be a natural tendency, for out of touch
officialdom, to start spinning the “Not on our doorstep” mentality. We will see
people in the coming days and weeks ahead, being quite firm in their assessment.
This tragedy would not happen in their area of authority. Yet how can we be
sure that this is the case?
After all,
so many of our officials are simply out of touch with their electorate and
ultimately their paymasters.
For
example. Last weekend in Waterford, the Sunny South East finally lived up to
its name. The hottest weekend of the year – hurrah I hear you cry! It was so
hot, that on Sunday the “Bargain basement” tarmac on our roads was melting.
Summer in
the City was in full swing, keeping many a family and visitor alike in John
Robert’s Square. The Churchyard Sessions are proving to be a huge success as
well, tucked in behind The Reg. The Waterford Triathlon Club’s annual “Hook or
by Crook” race, attracted hundreds of competitors and visitors to Dunmore East
(a big well done to Team 247 as well, on the unexpected relay win, with an
extra hard pedalling Biscuit!). Lismore held the annual Immrama Festival of
Writing, with the likes of Colm Toibin and Terry Waite attending. There really
was a hell of a lot going on.
Yet, against
this backdrop of sun, frolicking, sea and sand, I heard reports of out of touch
Councillors, complaining about spending “Our” money on supporting these events!
Events that bring joy to so many.
Get out
from behind your closed doors and engage!
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