There is still ‘no Garda presence’ in Dublin city centre six months after rioting brought chaos to the capital, a leading journalist has claimed.

The Dublin riots broke out last November, hours after a number of children were injured from a knife attack at Parnell Square.

Garda vehicles, a Luas tram and several Dublin Buses were set alight over the course of the evening at a cost of millions to the State.

'Unsafe city'

On The Pat Kenny Show today, Business Post editor Daniel McConnell said Dublin remains an “unsafe city” six months on from the event.

“We’ve been writing quite extensively over many months about the state of Dublin city centre, in terms of cleanliness and the safety of it,” he said.

“I think it’s well established now; even the Garda commissioner Drew Harris has admitted here is an under provision of policing on the ground.

“It’s been a long-standing criticism of the city that there isn’t a visible garda presence at busy times like weekends, when people are out socialising.”

The remains of a burned bus being transported on O'Connell Street, 24/11/2023. Photograph: Leon Farrell / © RollingNews.ie

Mr McConnell said the lack of Gardaí in the capital was obvious during COVID and has only gotten worse in the years since.

“When you cycle through town like I do pretty much every day, you see open drug taking and drug dealing," he said.

“There is glass all over the street and there is neglect on our main thoroughfares like Grafton Street and O’Connell Street.

“Laneways are now being boarded up because they can’t be kept clean and safe.

“There seems to be a disconnect between those running the city and those who are using it – businesses, citizens and tourists.”

Complex issue

North Inner City Councillor Janet Horner said the issue of cleaning up drug taking and dealing in the city is “complex”.

“Policing plays a role but there are other solutions we need too,” said the Green Party councillor.

“We need to be dealing with addiction much better in the city as a whole.

“The solutions are complex; there isn’t a silver bullet available to us that we can just get rid of [open drug taking and dealing] with the flick of a switch.

“We need safe injecting centres, we need serious investment in mental health, serious investment in youth forces and serious investment in Gardai.”

Facilities

Cllr Horner said there is also a lack of facilities in the city centre for young people like sports pitches.

“These are important outlets for young people to feel like a staple in the community like they are a part of something,” she said.

“There are also issues in Fairview Park where we’ve seen pitches destroyed a few times over the last few months by vandals in the middle of the night.

“It’s left the pitches unplayable for young people.”

A Garda recruitment drive currently underway is hoping to add an additional 1,000 members to the force.

Main image: Garda Public Order Unit on O'Connell Street during the Dublin Riots. Photograph: Sam Boal / © RollingNews.ie