Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The motto of the Garda is always to address not only the causes of crime but also the fear of crime. Of great concern in recent months has been the situation on O'Connell Street and serious incidents which have happened on the streets close by. One of our Dublin Deputies told me recently about a bus driver who was badly assaulted, with cuts around his face and neck, when he tried to fight off a robbery attempt. While restraining one attacker, he was set upon by another, who tried to gouge his eye out. Thankfully, he escaped, but he had severe injuries to his head and face. This concern has been raised with me by a few Dublin Deputies and by some bus drivers. Other bus drivers have been assaulted while working around O'Connell Street and similar areas. This needs to be addressed. The programme for Government promises proper community policing. It is not just Dublin where there is a problem with this. It seems that the community police are the first to be cut when there is a recruitment crisis. I am thinking of Killarney, my town, where there is currently no community garda in place.

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