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MORE THAN 700 tourists reported they were mugged in Ireland last year.
The figures, which were released by the Irish Tourist Assistance Service (ITAS), show that Germans were most affected, followed by French, American, Italian, British and Spanish tourists.
The victims tended to be women aged between 17-25.
Of the 726 crimes reported, just over half (52%) related to pick-pocketing. The majority of the incidents happened between 2-6pm in Dublin city centre.
The figures are only representative of those who were referred to the ITAS, so the overall number of tourists mugged is likely to be much higher.
Fianna Fáil’s Justice Spokesperson Niall Collins raised the issue in the Dáil today.
He said the figures “will come as no surprise to the people who live and work in Dublin and have seen first-hand the surge in criminal activity in the city”.
They have become all too familiar with the sickening sight of blatant drug dealing and drug-related crime on the boardwalk along the Liffey, on the main thoroughfares in town and on public transport through the city. Tourists are exposed to this the minute they arrive in the city centre at any time of the day or night.
Collins accused the government of ignoring the “spiralling level of drug related crime in Dublin”, and said more gardaí are needed on the streets.
He went on to ask Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald to take a walk with him through Dublin city centre “to see for herself the shocking level of crime and anti-social behaviour and the threats facing tourists and Dubliners on a daily basis”.
‘Very much aware of crime’
Fitzgerald was not present in the Dáil at the time, due to a prior commitment. Junior Minister Ann Phelan spoke on her behalf.
Phelan told Collins that policing strategy in Dublin city centre and elsewhere, and the deployment of relevant Garda resources, is “a matter for the Garda authorities”.
“However, the minister is committed to supporting An Garda Síochána in providing a strong, visible policing presence throughout the country, to help reduce crime, including crimes committed against tourists,” she stated.
Phelan said Fitzgerald is “very much aware of the impact of crime and related anti-social behaviour in the city centre area”, and met with business representatives in December to discuss crimes against tourists.
She added it is “unfortunately a fact that in any city such as Dublin, which attracts a large numbers of tourists, there will from time to time be incidences of crime against tourists”.
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People rushing about yesterday after the shock that RTE hadn’t put any extra capacity on their servers for the fight.
Come on RTE, what do we pay you for?
:) I watched Katie’s fight online yesterday here: http://www.eurovisionsports.tv/london2012/
The EBU is streaming a whole range of Olympic events live (though without commentary). Hope that helps if you’re stuck today!
Best online tv for irish stations is Aertv.ie through safari on your iPhone (I have an iPhone 4), go to RTE2 HD. Uses a lot of bandwidth though, so go Wifi if you can
What about michelle smith??
Yeah that was my favourite memory. I know it soured afterwards but at the time it was fantastic.
Cian O’ Connor being stripped of his gold medal is definitely up there.
Riding a horse isn’t even a sport.
It’s a passtime for the privileged.
And naturally the Olympics should be reserved for the disadvantaged. You’d be a cert for gold in the ‘chip-on shoulder’, Niall
Niall – Horse riding is for the privileged? Ha ha ha ha ha and travellers and youngfellas in the fields around Finglas and Ballymun, 2 towns well known for their champagne lifestyles and blue-blooded families.
Its the 21st century and we have a republic now Niall. If you aspire to horse riding you can do it without having to be born with a silver spoon in your gob. Give up your flat cap and hobnail boots and they’ll even let you into the Shelbourne hotel for afternoon tea. Just remember not to spit on the carpets and don’t say “yes, Sorr” to the chaps in the tuxedos. They are the waiters.
What a bloody horrible thing to say, regardless of wether you like show jumping, he was and is a representing Olympian for Ireland! How dare you be so disrespectful!
Horse riding shouldn’t be in the Olympics.
And a former cheat who was stripped of his medal isn’t entitled to any respect
yea i mean everyone is disliking my comment about Michelle smith being the best memory. It was at the time god.
But i guess Cian is in a more ‘posh’ sport and he’s ‘higher class’ so if he loses a medal he did nothing wrong
Very proud of the past but Katie Taylor all the way. She has been an amazing ambassador for Ireland and the sport of boxing.
Eddie the eagle! Always Eddie the eagle.
John Treacy winning silver in the marathon in Los Angeles in ’84. Awesome performance by a guy who hadn’t competed in the event before.The battle he had with Charlie Spedding was incredible.
i know Johnson ain’t Irish but its an Olympic memory for me.
You’re right, he ‘isn’t’ Irish.
Paddy Barnes saying he wasn’t going to medal ceremony in Beijing.
Michael Carruth without a doubt the family were our next door neighbours , great excitement on the day and for weeks later , rte had cables running through our house , journalists looking for stories , great times , Michael sent a postcard to my mum all singed by the Irish boxing team sadly my mum and michaels dad have passed away , Austin was a gentleman , always involved in sports managed our local soccer team when I was a nipper , cherished memories .
Sorry signed , typo !
Michelle smith..Michael carruth and watching the phenomenal Michael Johnson atlanta 96
When that that great irish athlete Hussein O Bolt won gold for team GB.
Michael Carruth in 92 was amazing, and also somehow the casserole bowl exploded in the oven during the fight
Seeing Alan Wells sprint home as winner of the 100M in Moscow (I think ?) is my earliest memory, but John Treacy winning a silver medal in the marathon was a fantastic moment – for a Waterford man !!!
what about kenny egan winning silver last time? amazing fighter and gorgeous as well :)
The end of every Olympics. Does my head in :-)
Yeah does my head in too, I hate when it ends.
Most exhilarating memory is Sonia O’Sullivan bursting clear of the pack to lead the 3000m going round the final bend in 1992 in Barcelona.
Most painful memory was watching her fade in the final stretch to finish in that most cruel of spots, fourth.
For the sheer roller coaster of emotions, that was the most memorable for me.
I was only 10 at the time but I can picture it vividly.
Ronnie Delaney.
Sean Drey and Eamonn Coughlan came so close in Montreal and Moscow. So when I found myself sitting up to watch the Marathon of the LA Olympics it didn’t seem possible that John Treacy could actually pull it off. It was the first time I saw an Irish athlete win anything! (Apologies Mick Dowling but I wasn’t watching.)
have your say