24/7 security hired as city road project continues

Security workers have been hired to provide 24/7 coverage of an ongoing infrastructure project on the north side of Cork city which has been at the centre of a dispute between Cork City Council and local residents.

Residents of Knockfree Avenue said five security personnel were on site early on Monday morning, two of whom had cameras. Residents have said they found the presence of the security workers “intimidating”. “The protest has been peaceful since it began on 12 January,” said local resident Michelle Hegarty.

It has been confirmed they were hired by the company carrying out works on behalf of Cork City Council, Sorenson Civil Engineering.

When approached for comment, a spokesperson for Sorenson asked for all queries related to the project be directed to Cork City Council.

A spokesperson for Cork City Council said the security workers had been engaged by Sorenson to “ensure a safe workspace for the workers who are onsite, and to help maintain a safe environment for people in the area”.

“Some of the site works areas were interfered with last week, presenting a health and safety risk to some individuals,” they said.

Residents told the Cork Independent gardaí had been called to the site twice on Monday morning, once by the contractors, and again by residents.

Gardaí have confirmed they responded to the first incident. They said there were currently no offences to disclose. Locals have been demonstrating against the removal of trees from Knockpogue and Knockfree Avenues as part of the ongoing Knockpogue Avenue and Knockfree Avenue Active Travel Improvement Works.

In response to four motions at last month's council meeting calling for works to be paused while mediation with residents took place, Cork City Council Chief Executive Valerie O’Sullivan said the council could not stop the works. To do so would be a breach of contract she said, and the council was confident its public consultation phase had been robust.

This article was produced with the support of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme funded by Coimisiún na Meán.