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'A sinister development' - Dublin locals concerned over organised brawls between gangs

The escalation of organised gang fights in parts of Dublin in recent months has been a 'sinister ...
Stephen McNeice
Stephen McNeice

18.32 23 Oct 2020


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'A sinister development' - Dub...

'A sinister development' - Dublin locals concerned over organised brawls between gangs

Stephen McNeice
Stephen McNeice

18.32 23 Oct 2020


Share this article


The escalation of organised gang fights in parts of Dublin in recent months has been a 'sinister development', a local councillor has said.

There have been reports of mass fights in the city centre, Swords, Blanchardstown, Ballyfermot, Balbriggan and elsewhere throughout the summer and into the autumn.

Many of those involved are teenagers, sometimes as young as 13 or 14.

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The term 'Eircode gangs' has been used to describe some of the groups involved, due to their association with particular areas of the city and the influence of  'postcode gangs' in London.

Earlier this month, there were reports of an alleged prearranged fight breaking out on the grounds of Liffey Gaels GAA club in the Inchicore / Ballyfermot area.

The chairman of the club Robbie Lupton - who witnessed the fight when he arrived for team training - told The Hard Shoulder's Henry McKean that they've since heard it was an organised fight between two gangs from different areas of the capital.

'A sinister development' - Dublin locals concerned over organised brawls between gangs

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He said: "There was about 60 youths involved, boys and girls, ranging from the age of roughly 13-14 to 17. They were quite young, and weren't from the area.

"I saw one lad run along with what looked like a hatchet - a homemade type of weapon.

"We couldn't train on the pitch that night - I wouldn't let the lads up onto the pitch, so we had to train in the car park... it's not nice arriving to training at your GAA club and that sort of thing going on on the pitch."

He said there was a good Garda response within 10-15 minutes, with the public order unit also attending.

'Battleground for gangs'

Councillor Daithí Doolan, meanwhile, said it was a "travesty" to see a great GAA club being used as a "battleground for two gangs".

He said: "I have to applaud the guards for their swift and appropriate response... let's hope we have more of it, and gardaí receive the resources they need.

"Unfortunately, the gangs haven't gone away. It didn't sort out the cause of it.

"We need to seriously invest in our youth services... these young people need to be engaged with and part of the solution. Ignoring them or marginalising them is not the solution - we need to work with them.

Councillor Doolan said anti-social behaviour has been an issue for years, but the use of weapons is a "sinister development" that could result in people being seriously or even fatally injured.

He said the likes of axes, pickaxe handles and shovels are among the items being used as weapons in these brawls.

He observed: "I think the build up to Halloween this year has been like none other before - we've had a serious level of anti-social behaviour.

"COVID doesn't help... the proliferation of fireworks doesn't help... drugs might have something to do with it."

Main image: File photo. Picture by: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews.ie

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