RSF lead protest at motorists 'rat-run'

limerick | miscellaneous | press release Sunday September 28, 2003 19:27 by Ailín - RSF

Angry residents living alongside a busy main road in the city took part in a Republican Sinn Féin organised protest on Friday evening last to highlight the danger to their young children, the local election candidate Seán O'Neill said today.

RSF community affairs spokesman Seán O'Neill from Rosbrien said that the angry parents are determined to bring traffic to a halt in order to show how a "rat run" through part of Hyde Avenue is a potential death trap.

"For too long motorists are speeding through a short cut by the Lady of Lourdes Church and placing the lives of children in danger," said Mr.O'Neill.

"We staged a protest on Friday evening at the rush hour - from 5.15 to 6.15 pm to highlight the problem and to show that the local residents will not tolerate the situation any longer.

"The parents of Hyde Avenue and the surrounding streets are very concerned about the build up of traffic and by the fact that motorists are using the route by the church as a short cut to Greenfields and the city.

"The protest did highlight the problem and we are now in contact with the Limerick City Council to ensure that action is taken to seal off this rat run.

"For too long the entire length of Hyde Avenue has been used as a speeding lane by motorists who want to exit or enter the city avoiding traffic.

"The time has now come to tackle the problem and we have highlighted the situation for the local residents."

Seán O'Neill, Limerick Republican Sinn Féin

September 28, 2003