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Sasko Lazarov via RollingNews,ie

Businesses forced to hide pallets inside over fears they'll be stolen for illegal bonfires

Dublin Fire Brigade are calling on businesses to do what they can do stop dangerous bonfires.

PALLETS AND CARDBOARD are often stolen at this time of the year to make up illegal bonfires.

Business owners are being urged to do what they can to try and stop opportunistic thieves.

Mark Baker, who runs Baker & Co Insulations, spends 40 minutes a day making sure his company’s pallets are stored inside after a bad experience a few years ago.

Baker told TheJournal.ie that a secure yard with electric gates didn’t deter the culprits.

They climbed over the gates and threw the pallets over. They take milk trolleys from shops and they stack the pallets on them.

“They left a trail of destruction behind them, it was just a mess.”

Baker added that the pallets aren’t expensive but he thinks companies should be responsible.

A lot of places don’t mind but I’m conscious of the kids.

“We go through around 100 pallets a week and we recycle them when we have a full load of around 300 pallets. ”

At this time of the year, he spends around 20 minutes putting the pallets inside in the evenings, and another 20 minutes every morning taking them out again before the working day can start.

Baker said that he noticed children starting to collect pallets and cardboard last Monday, he added that some were as young as 12 or 13.

Dublin Fire Brigade launched their safe Halloween campaign last week and are calling on businesses to do what they can do stop dangerous bonfires.

Lord Mayor Brendan Carr said, “Bonfires are not only illegal, they are extremely dangerous and together with fireworks, can cause a lot of injuries and damage.

“I am asking all citizens to report any issues regarding the storage or distribution of bonfire material to Dublin City Council.”

Read: Firefighters warn of the dangers of leaving candles unattended>

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11 Comments
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    Mute jason bourne
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    Feb 12th 2017, 9:22 AM

    Wow.. fair play

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    Paul
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    Mute Paul
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    Feb 12th 2017, 9:26 AM

    What a brilliant out of the box idea – where they whole world is turning extreme right it’s refreshing to see the possibilities to be had while providing a service to African countries. We get bashed from pillar to post by politicians and inquiry after inquiry and sometimes lose track of what makes Irish people great.

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    Mute Mike
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    Feb 12th 2017, 9:43 AM

    @Paul: So a good news story about an African country gets dragged down by someone virtue signalling their hatred of all things right wing. IMO it’s a great story as it shows what people can do for themselves if given the help and resources to get started, One needs seed capital to participate in capitalism, these credit unions appear to be doing the right thing in getting economic activity going. Like many in the West they too wanted and have opted for change in government, here’s hoping the new guy can govern well and support these business people.

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    Mute Stiofán Mac Stáin
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    Feb 12th 2017, 10:05 AM

    @Paul: Capitalism at its best, private individuals and organisations taking matters into their own hands instead of waiting for the government to do something about it.

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    Mute Taylor
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    Feb 12th 2017, 9:54 AM

    Well said Paul! It’s nice to see something refreshing on the journal instead of negativity

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    Mute Debi Nikita
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    Feb 12th 2017, 11:08 AM

    Great news..

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    Mute Gerard Creedon
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    Feb 12th 2017, 12:13 PM

    Fair play !

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    Mute Ita Connolly
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    Feb 12th 2017, 9:59 PM

    My Dad worked with the Irish League of Credit Unions in the Gambia to help train local people and set up Credit Unions in 1998 and again in 2000. I’ve sent him this link. It’ll make his day.

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    Mute Gerry Fallon
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    Feb 12th 2017, 3:16 PM

    Rush credit union have a branch in Gambia,wow! Fair play to them.

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    Mute Anthony Byrne
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    Feb 13th 2017, 7:58 AM

    Should the headline not read “Gambians use’Gambian’ credit union system to …. Etc”

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