DUBLIN BUS has cancelled a number of bus services into housing estates in Finglas at night over the Easter weekend, because of a recent spate of attacks on buses.
=The 40, 40A, 40B and 40C will terminate at Finglas village from 7pm onwards, while the 40D and the 220 will bypass the Finglas housing estates and continue on to Blanchardstown, after 7pm. The restrictions will apply from today and normal services will not resume until Monday. A spokeswoman for Dublin Bus said there had been a "very significant rise in the number of attacks on buses in the area" in recent weeks.
The incidents involved stones, rocks and other missiles being thrown at the windows of buses. Windows had been broken, but she said there had been no reports of injuries to date.
"Our drivers have reported that these attacks have increased in the last number of weeks. We don't want to reduce services, but the safety of passengers and drivers has to be our first concern."
Siptu, which represents drivers on the routes concerned also said it regretted services were curtailed but said the action was necessary.
"On average there has been one attack per night over the past three weeks, at all times of day and evening."
The decision follows violent scenes in the Cardiffsbridge area of Finglas on St Patrick's Day, where cars were burned and 17 people were arrested. Dublin Bus stopped all services into the area during these incidents.
