Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I make my remarks as a proud Dubliner and one of the TDs who represent Dublin Central. In the aftermath of these awful events, this vicious knife attack on young children and on a childcare worker, I was actually on the scene. I do not recall seeing any of the Members opposite out and on the ground to fully appreciate the devastation that was felt at the unfolding events, as well as the clear realisation very early on that this was very ugly and that there was a very malicious cabal of people who had gathered, were working their phones and were clearly mobilising.

As I walked through the inner city, as I regularly do, I spoke to countless people who all said one thing in common. They all saw it coming. They either witnessed it with their own eyes or on social media platforms. We are now in a bizarre situation where it seems the only people who did not see this coming are the people who are actually in charge, namely, the people in leadership positions, the Minister, the Garda Commissioner and, it seems, the entire benches of the Government. You are the only people who did not see it coming. Let me tell you this: you do not have to convince anyone here, or beyond here, of the bravery of the gardaí. We saw it with our two eyes. We saw gardaí being isolated on their own. There was one big burly fellow on O’Connell Street who was beating people off him. He was isolated and in a very dangerous situation. You do not have to tell us about the bus drivers and the taxi drivers, or those who work for Dublin City Council. Bravo. They were the heroes of the piece. We know that. They stood by Dublin and they did us proud. Do you know who let us down? You let us down.

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