48 new Garda recruits promised for city centre

ASSISTAnT Garda the launch of Summer in Dublin on Suffolk Street. Picture: Leon Farrell

Commissioner Angela Willis has pledged 48 new recruits for Dublin as Tánaiste Micheál Martin said “certain areas” of the city “are not safe to traverse at night”.

Speaking at a media event at the Curragh Barracks, the Fianna Fáil leader said “basically speaking Dublin is safe”. However, he admitted “there are concerns” about some areas.

Mr Martin condemned the “vicious attacks” that have happened in Dublin city in recent weeks, including the attack on a US citizen on Talbot Street last week.

Stephen Termini was attacked on Dublin’s Store Street and remains in intensive care at Beaumont Hospital.

Yesterday, a 14-year-old boy was charged with assault causing harm.

Mr Martin also rejected suggestions that gardaí are “invisible” and said officers are visible on the streets.

Asst Commissioner Willis, who has responsibility for the Dublin Metropolitan region, said the new recruits will soon be deployed in the capital to increase the visibility of gardaí. She made the comments at a meeting of the Dublin City Joint Policing Committee this afternoon, which focused on issues of anti-social behaviour in the city centre.

The regular bimonthly meeting took place in the wake of the assault on Mr Termini.

Asst Commissioner Willis, who said she could not comment on the case because it was before the courts, said 48 new gardaí will be allocated to the Dublin region in the next two weeks.

11 of the graduates from Templemore will be posted to the Dublin north Central Division and 10 to the Dublin South Central Division with the rest being deployed across the capital.

The assistant commissioner said the new gardaí will “all be put out on high visibility patrols” and she said “I do recognise that visibility does create that feeling of safety for people”.