A TD and former Government minister has admitted that he does not feel safe walking around Dublin city centre at night. 

On Thursday Ciarán Cannon tweeted to his 14,500 followers that:

“It’s a difficult thing to have to say, but recognising a problem is the first step in solving it. Our capital city at night is a dangerous place, where you feel deeply concerned about your personal safety. Walk from the Spire to Stephen’s Green at 10.00pm and see for yourself.”

Newstalk reporter Henry McKean took the route suggested by Deputy Cannon and asked others whether they felt the same way. Starting at the Spire, he began to meander south towards the Liffey where the first person he stopped to chat to was in doubt that the politician had a point: 

“It’s gotten terrible really, hasn’t it?” one woman told Henry. 

“I certainly wouldn’t walk down here in the evening.” 

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Another woman was equally emphatic in her view: 

“I really wouldn’t do that to myself,” she said. 

“I don’t feel it’s safe, especially in town really.” 

“I just think there’s a lot of crime and just people being attacked,” a third woman told Henry. 

“I mean I haven’t been in town since last year - this is my first time.

"Just haven’t come in, avoided the place and I’m from Ballymun… I won’t even take out my phone. It’s not a safe place anymore like it was when I was a kid.” 

Aerial Dublin city view over the Liffey River, Samuel Beckett and Sean O' Casey Bridge.

However, one person who was quick to disagree was local Sinn Féin councillor, Janice Boylan: 

“I’ve never felt unsafe walking around the city,” Cllr Boylan told Newstalk. 

“I’ve often come from City Hall after a late night meeting at half nine and walked from City Hall through to O’Connell Street to either grab the Luas or the 122 bus up to my home. 

“So for me, I’ve never felt unsafe… I walk the length and breadth of this city every day.”

She was also keen to stress that, as a Government TD, Deputy Cannon should show some more awareness: 

“He has to take into consideration that he’s been in Government for [11] years. So if Ciarán feels that way about the city of Dublin he needs to ask himself why and more importantly he needs to go back and ask [Justice Minister] Helen McEntee what she can do about it. 

“He needs to be constructive, he needs to come up with solutions rather than beating the city down.”

Main image: Early Morning O'Connell Street Dublin Ireland.