Madam, - Cllr Brian Meaney, in promoting his "rail bike" publicity stunt along the Western Rail Corridor route (The Irish Times, July 13th), is guilty, at the very least, of gross irresponsibility.
Our principal concern is not even the fact that a dormant line, like Ennis-Athenry where this stunt was staged, could have Iarnród Éireann track inspection or maintenance vehicles operating, or the impact of his actions on public road level crossings or main line trains at Athenry or Claremorris.
Instead, our greatest concern is the appalling example set by an elected representative in trespassing on a railway line, when we commit considerable resources to preventing trespass, particularly amongst the young.
No young person viewing the photos or TV footage of this ridiculous publicity stunt will differentiate between a line that is used or disused, and his actions appear to legitimise trespass and stunts of a similar nature amongst the minds of the more impressionable. Trespass can kill or maim, and has done so many times in the past.
It is the families and friends of the victims and our staff, and not Cllr Meaney, that have had to face the aftermath of such horrific incidents, so perhaps it is easier for him to disregard these concerns in his pursuit of publicity. It is depressing that a councillor in his 40s must be given the same message as a 14-year-old: railway lines are not playgrounds. - Yours, etc,
BARRY KENNY, Manager, Corporate Communications, Iarnród Éireann, Connolly Station, Dublin 1.