Shocking CCTV footage shows the scale of random street violence in the heart of Dublin’s city centre.
CCTV footage from the Temple Bar area of Dublin city - in which incidents of random violence occurred in the last few weeks, reports the Irish Mirror.
We also spoke to one terrified business owner who asked not to be named due to the fear of the gangs they say are ruining the city’s nightlife for everyone.
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“It has got so out of control now. This is not only seriously affecting our business, but it’s just putting everyone in fear of even coming into the city,” they said. “I mean why would they when you have this level of crime going on on a daily basis. It doesn’t even matter what time of the day it is anymore. It is constant.”
In one clip, a shocking incident of recent assault played out in the middle of a street in Temple Bar. In the footage, a group of hooded youths can be seen approaching an individual - before one of them pushes him to the ground.
As the victim lies slumped against a pole, another youth appears to stamp on his head. As the victim tries to get up, he is seen stumbling, before falling again.
As he falls to the ground he is further attacked - and again makes a further attempt to get up before another of the gang drags him back down on the ground.
He is then punched and kicked further before the group disband and leave the victim in the street. And as this business owner told us - incidents of this nature are now occurring on the streets of Dublin’s Temple Bar regularly.
“It isn’t unusual for there to be an assault nearly every day, and they are often very serious. We are regularly having to deal with the guards and to hand over CCTV of all kinds of incidents now. It is out of control.
“And yes it is affecting business. Why would anyone want to come into town and have to face this? We are afraid to come into work ourselves sometimes.”
“There are all sorts of gangs operating here and many of us are getting sick of it. Something needs to be done. There needs to be greater enforcement.”
The business owner’s fears come as local councillor Mannix Flynn told this paper this week that Dublin city centre had become a “hostile place.”
“It’s all too often unfortunately between attacks on An Garda Siochana to attacks on members of the public to domestic violence, it’s pretty depressing but it needs to be confronted.
“The state is obliged to make the place safe and to police that. The city is hostile. Everyone will tell you the city is hostile. It’s a very changed place,” he said.
The independent councillor added that Dublin still has a lot to offer - but many can’t help but feel unsafe in the nation’s capital.
“I mean it’s still a very beautiful place, a very welcoming place but there is an element in that now which is one of hostility and one of a sense of one's safety.
“It's a genuine fear. While the vast majority of people haven't been assaulted they nonetheless have that fear. The city now has a reputation and this doesn't do any favours for it.”
Cllr Flynn says he believes greater enforcement of the law is necessary - rather than just more gardai.
“I certainly think enforcement is where it's at. You can have as many gardai as you like but if there’s no enforcement by way of courts etc, forget about it. People have to be held responsible in that regard. It’s all too often.”
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