People power to save lives in estates

A community stood behind a family in Portlaoise last week and pledged to fight for better safety for children in housing estates.

Neighbours and friends of the Greene family from St Brigid’s Place packed into the hall at St Paul’s National School not just to support the family, but to start a campaign to prevent any more deaths like Maria Greene who died after being knocked down near her home last month.

Apart from demanding immediate measures at St Brigid’s where Maria died, the public have backed the demands from the bereaved parents on Laois County Council to start work immediately on slowing traffic in all estates so that children are protected and more lives are not lost.

Maria’s mother Amanda believes that her daughter would be alive if there was a ramp on her road. She and her husband told the Leinster Express that “people power” would force action to improve estate safety.

“There is going to be a meeting called as soon as possible where all residents associations in Portlaoise come together to push this forward,” she said.

Stephen Greene urged estates every town, village and parish to start campaigning for safety measures.