Politicians from the Cabra and Glasnevin area have said that the government needs to address the issue of knife crime in Dublin.
Labour TD Marie Sherlock and Fianna Fáil councillor John Stephens were speaking following the fatal stabbing of Jamie Bailey over the weekend.
The stabbing took place on Blackhorse Avenue in the early hours of Sunday morning.
“I know there is a real sense of horror and shock among local residents, and fear following what has happened. Knife crime is causing far too many serious injuries and deaths. We urgently need to discuss how we address this issue,” Sherlock said.
The Dublin Central TD said, “over the past year, there have been several serious knife attacks in our city. Last September, a 17-year-old boy was seriously injured after being stabbed up to 20 times on Eden Quay. Last month, a man was stabbed near Store Street Garda Station and another in broad daylight on O’Connell Street. Another man was critically injured after being stabbed on Foley Street in July. These are just some examples of how widespread knife crime is in our city centre, particularly in my own constituency.”
Sherlock noted that in 2025 the Mater reported a 68% increase in knife-related injuries presenting to its emergency department, mostly among young men aged 18 to 34.
“The Minister for Justice talks tough on knife crime, but we have not seen concerted action to address this issue. The Dublin City Taskforce said we needed 1,000 additional gardaí for the city centre, but the Minister cannot say when this will happen. While we need deterrence, we cannot simply police our way out of this. We need a local action plan to tackle knife crime in our city,” she said.
The Labour TD said, “we need more education in our schools about knife crime and its consequences to address the normalisation of knife carrying. We must make it harder for anyone to get their hands on exceptionally sharp knives,” adding that a knife amnesty should be considered.
Stephens said that incidents like this are “deeply distressing” and serve as a reminder of the “devastating impact violent crime can have on individuals, families and entire communities.”
“Nobody should have to fear for their safety on their own streets,” he said.
The Cabra-Glasnevin councillor said his experience working in a hospital had given him a first-hand understanding of the serious and sometimes life-changing consequences of knife crime and serious assaults.
“Through my work in the hospital, I have seen first-hand the awful consequences of violence. Behind every serious injury is a person, a family and a community left dealing with the aftermath. The physical injuries can be horrific, but the emotional and psychological impact can last long after the initial incident,” he said.
“We cannot continue to condemn knife crime after each incident without taking action. We must tackle the causes of violence, ensure those responsible are held accountable, and educate young people about the serious consequences of carrying a knife. We need to send a clear message that knives are not toys and that carrying one can have life-changing consequences.”
Stephens said addressing knife crime requires a coordinated approach involving An Garda Síochána, community organisations, schools, youth services and Government agencies.
“We need to come together with a comprehensive approach that combines effective policing, prevention and early intervention, while giving young people positive opportunities and ensuring those responsible for violent offences are held accountable,” Stephens said.
“We need to send a clear message that carrying a knife can change lives forever, and do everything in our power to prevent another family from experiencing the heartbreak and trauma that violent crime can cause.”
The Fianna Fáil councillor said, “my thoughts remain with Jamie Bailey’s family and everyone affected by this tragedy. We must ensure that incidents like this are met not only with condemnation, but with meaningful action to prevent further violence and make our communities safer.”