Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The horrific and brutal stabbings that took place in Dublin last week merit our absolute and total condemnation. To brutally attack children and a crèche worker in such a manner offends every instinct we have as civilised people. It was a grotesque act of savage violence. I want to commend the heroic actions of Wicklow man, Warren Donohoe, who was visiting Dublin with his family for his daughter Abigail’s birthday when he tackled the alleged assailant and removed the knife from him. I also want to acknowledge the brave actions of Caio Benicio and Alan Loren-Guille.

I unreservedly condemn the utter lawlessness that exploded in Dublin following this terrible event. This was the result of thugs who were more than willing to hijack public anger to advance their own petty criminality and complete disregard for law and order and the lives and safety of our gardaí and first responders.

Much has been said about the political causes of this shameful episode. Some of it has been accurate. There is a lack of resources, and a city has been effectively abandoned to a criminal class. There is a growing sense that Dublin has become lawless and drug-infested, despite the best efforts of An Garda Síochána. Some of the commentary, however, has been nothing short of pathetic and, indeed, at times, potentially defamatory. I heard some of it here this evening, which was directed at my colleagues. Some have gone to the extreme and actually laid the blame for what happened in the riot at the doors of people like me and my colleagues in the Rural Independent Group. Those kinds of statements are not just moronic, they are grossly insulting. Those comments will be dealt with in an appropriate fashion in due course. For now, I will simply say this: responding to last week’s terrible events by rushing headlong into the self-righteous and self-serving erosion of free speech would not just be wrong, it would be profoundly and dangerously counterproductive.

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