Residents of a flat complex in Dublin with a high crime rate have admitted they are living in fear. 

Robinson Court off Cork Street near the Liberties has achieved an unwanted level of notoriety in the neighbourhood after three people were in the block over a 17 year period. 

There are also regular break ins and residents, most of whom are elderly, complain of threats and drug dealing. 

Sarah Cullen is 75-years-old and recently had an upsetting encounter. 

“Well, he came to my door,” she told Newstalk reporter Barry Whyte. 

“I was sitting here, so he said, ‘I’m only out of prison, have you any money?’” 

“I said, ‘I have f**k all money for you, you’ll get nothing. So move away from my door.’”

Ms Cullen said she had seen him go to hit a woman over the head with a bag of cans and believes officials have let the area down. 

“There has been nothing done about that [the crime rate]. Nothing,” she said.  

For years, residents have been asking for security gates but none have appeared; Dublin City Council told Newstalk there are issues with fire safety but is reviewing the situation and expects to meet residents soon. 

For Ms Cullen, anything that improves the safety of the area cannot come soon enough. 

“I am living in fear, yeah,” she said. 

“I was lucky I wasn’t killed out there. I am lucky to be alive. I’m not getting any younger. 

“I’m just not able for all the hassle.” 

Other residents were equally blunt that Robinson Court is not a safe place to live. 

“I’m afraid to leave my windows open in case anyone breaks in,” another resident told Newstalk. 

“It’s getting worse in here. 

“I’d like to get out of here altogether, to be honest with you because I just can’t hack it. 

“I’ve been 11 years here in October and I just hate this place.” 

She knew Kwok Ping Cheng who was killed with an axe in 2021 and describes him as a “terrible nice man” who would “do no harm to no one”. 

Sinn Féin Councillor Máire Devine describes the area as having been “let down so many times” and is pressing Dublin City Council to take action. 

“We need to put some barrier in - whatever it may be - that prevents easy access from people who are going there from nefarious purposes,” she said. 

“And those nefarious purposes have included three murders, let’s be blunt about it. 

“We just need to protect our vulnerable.” 

Many residents want to leave Robinson Court altogether and ask her to help them with the paperwork. 

“The terror that’s wrought on it [means] a lot of them just want to get out,” Cllr Devine said. 

“So, I go in there and all I get is, ‘Máire, help me get a transfer. Get me a transfer, I want out of here.’”

Garda sources told Newstalk there are regular patrols in the area. 

Main image: Sarah Cullen.