Councillor calls on Minister for Justice to “act now” following tourist assault

Independent Councillor Nial Ring has called on Minister for Justice Helen McEntee to “stop paying lip service” to social issues in the North Inner City following an assault on an American tourist on Store Street last night.

An American tourist is in a “serious but stable” condition in Beaumont Hospital after suffering head and facial injuries on Store Street on Wednesday night.

Ring, who serves as a Councillor for the North Inner City says the virtue of the assault taking place near the “busiest Garda station in the country” makes the assault more disturbing.

The Councillor said the assault has “shocked everyone” in the local area.

“Again and again, local public representatives have pointed to the lack of Garda resources in the area as lately as two weeks ago when local councillors met with Chief Superintendent Pat McMenamin to discuss our ongoing concerns and ask for his plans.”

“His hands are tied because of lack of resources and we fully appreciate the huge work being done by Gardaí in the area but they are stretched beyond belief,” he said.

“We should not have to wait for incidents like this to have the issue highlighted again; the Minister for Justice has to stop paying lip service to the North Inner City with the creation of diversions such as the Community Safety Partnership which has its place but I would call on the Minister to visit the area.”

“She should actually listen to what the people of the area, the local representatives of the area and the Gardaí in the area demand – more Gardaí on the streets and on the beat, preventing incidents like this”

“I don’t want Talbot Street and the surrounding streets to become a no-go area but that’s exactly what is going to happen unless the Minister commits to making the North Inner City a safe place to be”

“Of course, we hope that the victim of this latest mindless attack makes a full recovery and he is in our prayers,” he added.

Gardaí at Store Street Garda Station are appealing for witnesses who were near the junction around Talbot Street and Store Street between 10.30pm and 11pm or anyone with information to contact them.

They are also looking for camera or mobile phone footage and are gathering and collating CCTV footage from businesses in the area.