DUBLIN BUS HAS said that vandalism caused a bus driver to abandon his route last week, leaving elderly people “stranded”.

The incident occurred last Wednesday on the number 40 bus route, which serves the Neilstown and Quarryvale areas of Clondalkin. At around 9.45pm, the company decided to alter the route.

Local Fianna Fáil councillor Trevor Gilligan says that the diversion left a number of elderly people without a bus home. He said that many had to walk around two kilometres for an alternative bus.

“This was the last bus and senior citizens were left to walk from the Coldcut Road as far as Moorefield. Many residents rely heavily on this route.

“I’m furious and quite frankly disappointed that people would take to damaging buses for no reason. This has been an ongoing problem for years.

“Do the culprits not know that this will result in fewer buses, perhaps even none in the area?

There was no prior engagement or information given out to people about the change. The bus which was to turn from the Coldcut Road onto the Neilstown Road and into North Clondalkin instead went from the Coldcut to Liffey Valley leaving residents with a 20 minute walk at midnight.

Dublin Bus says that they were following a protocol put in place with gardaí.

“There were incidents of stone throwing on the Route 40 last Wednesday evening and a decision was taken to divert buses from the area at 9.45pm. This is the agreed approach and advice from the gardaí when such incidents occur.

“Buses were re-instated in the area the following morning.”

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