Stolen Irish level crossing gates cross the line

I remember when reading "Teems of Times and Happy Returns" by Dominic Behan - an original 1961 hardback version found in Greene's - the author recalled that anything not nailed fast in his  Rutland Street childhood stomping ground, was likely to be stolen.  It seems light-fingeredness is a national disease, whether the lowlives are clad in shellsuits or Armani.  Or maybe Louis Copeland, this being Ireland.  

Even in Britain, the scousers - many of whom have strong Irish connections - are the ones who get most stick on the subject of thieving.   Whether there is any truth in it or not, or if it is because parts of Liverpool are particularly poor, I do not know.

I meant to put this post up last week, but between one thing and another, I've been pretty much up to my eyes and never got around to it.   Blogging is a time-consuming business, and it is no wonder that so many long-running bloggers are packing it in these days.   So, in the excerpt from "Breaking News" below, read "Sunday last last" for "Sunday last".  Yeah, not-so-breaking news on Gombeen Nation.

Iarnród Éireann says that seven level-crossing gates were stolen in the early hours of Sunday last between Ballymote in Co Sligo and Boyle in Co Roscommon.

Two gates were stolen at Cloonloo and five at Culfadda, according to a company spokeswoman.

She said Iarnród Éireann moved fast to secure the train lines for the safety of livestock and the public.

Cabling had been stolen in the past but level-crossing gates, which can be up to 14-foot high, had never been taken before, the spokeswoman said.

Gardaí in Ballymote and Boyle are investigating.

Given the petty gain for one individual, against the very real safety implications for others, I suppose you could say a line has been crossed in selfish stupidity 


Back to Gombeen Nation main page