Southside communities “terrified and frightened” by petrol bomb attacks, says Doolan

Sinn Féin Councillor Daithí Doolan has said last night’s petrol bomb attacks in Ballyfermot and Inchicore have left communities “terrified and frightened.”

 Doolan, who serves as chairperson of Dublin South Central Community Safety Forum, noted that the attacks come after a number of petrol bomb and gun attacks last week in this part of Dublin, and warned “the violence appears to be spreading.”

“Communities deserve to live in peace and safety.  These attacks are attacks on the whole community.  Those behind the attacks need to realise the damage they are doing to our neighbours.  They need to immediately stop.  Their reign of terror needs to stop,” the Ballyfermot-Drimnagh councillor said.

“I am calling on the Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan, to meet with elected representatives, community leaders and local services here in Ballyfermot and Inchicore to hear first-hand what needs to be done to tackle the causes and consequences of the increased violence in our communities,” the Sinn Féin councillor said.

“It is only by working together that we will tackle this violence and ensure our communities are safe places for everyone.”

Doolan said that the recent wave of violence should serve as a “wake-up call” for Minister O’Callaghan.

 Doolan said that the Minister “needs to realise that people are living in real fear.”

 “We want our communities to be safe places for everyone. But we need the Gardaí and the government to work with us to achieve that,” he said.