Gardaí recently published photos of 99 ‘persons of interest’ as part of their investigation into the Dublin Riots, with 56 having been removed following their identifications.
So far, 57 individuals - separate from those identified in the recent Garda photos - have been arrested in connection with the riots, which occurred on November 23rd 2023.
On Newstalk Breakfast, owner of the Carlton Casino on O’Connell Street Debbie Lawrence said not much had changed in the year since.
“The problem is it's too easy for people to get away with crime and repeat their offences,” she said.
“It's the judicial system – it's like a revolving door.
“That and also the fact that there's no sense of community in the city centre, it's not full of residents.”
A car burns on Parnell Street as members of the Garda Public Order Unit set up cordons on O'Connell Street and Parnell Street in Dublin, 23-11-23. Image: Sasko Lazarov / © RollingNews.ieMs Lawrence said that if more people lived in the city they would take more interest in its upkeep.
“It would make a huge difference - but the problem is the expense of turning these apartments or floors upstairs around into liveable spaces,” she said.
“Then you have to go through the planning process, and [be faced with] something as simple as you can't replace windows that are single glazed for double glazed.
"It's just nonsensical things for the 21st century that are holding people back from doing up these spaces.
“We have the space ourselves, but it's just cost prohibitive.”
Garda numbers
Former assistant Garda Commissioner Michael O’Sullivan said low Garda numbers made it difficult to enact meaningful changes.
“The guards are down about 2,000 below their number that they should be at,” he said.
“There's a problem with the Guards insofar as there is a difficulty with the numbers being recruited and trained - they're only marginally higher than the numbers that are leaving.
“So, I think people would feel a whole lot safer if there were more boots on the ground – and it's not always that easy to get those boots on the ground.”
Drugs
Mr O’Sullivan said increased violence in the city centre had been compounded by the availability of drugs.
“What you have is you've a number of people who are punching above their weight in terms of criminality - people who no longer have a fear about the Guards or the judiciary," he said.
“That's compounded at night in Dublin City by, let's say, the availability of coke.
“Once people are taking coke and alcohol together, they become more violent.”
Mr O’Sullivan said there is a greater awareness of policing needs since the riots.
Listen back here:
