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Poll: Do you feel safe in public parks after dark?

Dublin City Council said it does not encourage anyone to enter into a public park after dark.

DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL has said that additional lighting in city parks, even if the gates in these parks are always open, would “not be appropriate”.

TheJournal.ie today reports that, despite calls from local representatives for extra lighting in public parks, the Council said this would give a false sense of safety and encourage use after dark, adding that it does not encourage anyone to enter into a public park after dark.

That’s just “common sense”, the Council said in a statement. 

Local Councillors, however, argue that if parks remain open after 5pm during wintertime, the public should be allowed use them and have proper lighting to go with it.

They argue the Council would be better to look at the root causes of anti-social behaviour and taking measures to tackle it. 

So, today we’re asking: Do you feel safe in public parks after dark?


Poll Results:

No (7946)
No, but I would if there was more lighting  (1834)
Yes, but there should be more lighting  (896)
Yes (593)
I don't know/I've no opinion (299)

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48 Comments
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    Mute Louise B
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    Feb 24th 2020, 10:42 AM

    I’m scared of walking through parks during the day let alone at night.

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    Mute SFAnkleTapper
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    Feb 24th 2020, 10:34 AM

    Don’t fell safe outside them either.

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    Mute Brendan Gordon
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    Feb 24th 2020, 11:23 AM

    I feel perfectly safe in a public park at night. But I suppose I am well hidden in the bushes and always carry my machete for protection.

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    Mute Alan
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    Feb 24th 2020, 10:48 AM

    No city in the world would recommend walking through a park at night. Common sense!

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    Mute Caoimhín O Neill
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    Feb 24th 2020, 11:10 AM

    @Alan: you’re well travelled son. I took a nap in a park at night in Japan, why does the world have to adapt that opinion

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    Mute Donncha Ó Coileáin
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    Feb 24th 2020, 11:12 AM

    @Alan: There is no city that would actively recommend it. But there are many that wouldn’t see the need to discourage it either.

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    Mute Chris O'Sullivan
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    Feb 24th 2020, 11:23 AM

    @Caoimhín O Neill: maybe you were the one doing the scaring on that occasion

    33
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    Mute The Quare Fella
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    Feb 24th 2020, 12:59 PM

    @Caoimhín O Neill:
    In Japan it is commonplace to see 4-year olds walk on their own to school.
    Then again, they have an effective police and justice system and a deep-rooted culture of respect.

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    Mute Rory Stafford
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    Feb 24th 2020, 10:37 AM

    I live near a public park abd take a short cut though it sometimes at night. Never felt scared but would wonder why anyone would want to hang out in a park at night time anymore than they would want to stand around a field in the countryside after dark.

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    Mute Shane Barry
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    Feb 24th 2020, 11:57 AM

    @Rory Stafford: Teenagers drinking mostly

    111
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    Mute Rory Stafford
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    Feb 24th 2020, 4:42 PM

    @Shane Barry: yep

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    Mute Kenneth Baker
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    Feb 24th 2020, 10:35 AM

    Is it not victim blaming to invoke common sense on this (or indeed any) matter?

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    Mute SkepticalHippoEyes
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    Feb 24th 2020, 11:17 AM

    @Kenneth Baker: yes, common sense is now classified as “problematic” and also possibly “a tyranny”

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    Mute Logan Shepherd
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    Feb 24th 2020, 11:44 AM

    I do feel safe, even as a bogman in Dublin. Only because I’m walking a 42Kg German Shepherd though.

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    Mute Breda Claffey
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    Feb 24th 2020, 1:54 PM

    @Logan Shepherd: and you are a Male

    56
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    Mute Logan Shepherd
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    Feb 24th 2020, 3:00 PM

    @Breda Claffey: I hope so :-) I get your point though and I would not go on my own. I often encounter little groups late at night. They have never bothered me and I have always put that down to the dog. I’m not saying all little groups are up to no good, but by the demeanour of some, I’d say they are.

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    Mute milton friedman
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    Feb 24th 2020, 10:40 AM

    What public parks? Nothing but sprawling estates and dangerous roads around me

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    Mute A2 Poster
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    Feb 24th 2020, 10:50 AM
    23
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    Mute Full Circle
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    Feb 24th 2020, 11:45 AM

    @milton friedman: Good thing this article isn’t solely about you then.

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    Mute Martin McFly
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    Feb 24th 2020, 12:09 PM

    @milton friedman: anything positive to mention this week Milto?? You’re shooting 5 for 5 the last few Monday’s with negativity. Did you party hard this past weekend?

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    Mute milton friedman
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    Feb 24th 2020, 12:34 PM

    @Full Circle: it should be about me though IMO

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    Mute milton friedman
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    Feb 24th 2020, 12:38 PM

    @Martin McFly: haha being miserable makes me feel better. I’ll try be more upbeat going forward!

    My weekend was really good and got in a few pints. Thanks for asking. Hope yours was enjoyable.

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    Mute Eugene Comaskey
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    Feb 24th 2020, 11:14 AM

    Could one feel really safe in one’s own home after dark, or during brightness for that matter.?

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    Mute Anthony Clark
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    Feb 24th 2020, 1:08 PM

    Just build houses on it like at Northsides’ main park Saint Annes – two problems solved at once.

    (not serious btw – save St Annes!)

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    Mute Neil Farrell
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    Feb 24th 2020, 2:02 PM

    @Anthony Clark: They are not building in St Anne’s park, they are building beside St Anne’s…

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    Mute Reuben Gray
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    Feb 24th 2020, 11:12 AM

    Depends on the park really. I live beside the Phoenix Park and would feel pretty safe. There’s very little light from the little gas lamps so footing could be dangerous.

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    Mute Martin McFly
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    Feb 24th 2020, 12:12 PM

    @Reuben Gray: be careful of the Furry Glen in the PP. I hear it’s full of activity late at night. Or maybe that’s what you’re after.

    23
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    Mute Cormac Laffan
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    Feb 24th 2020, 2:47 PM

    @Martin McFly: I heard there’s a Stagg around there that’d hop off young lads.

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    Mute Ann Reddin
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    Feb 24th 2020, 6:43 PM

    @Cormac Laffan: Hahahahaha, probably not too many people on this thread to get that joke. Take a bow lol

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    Mute Matt Heffernan
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    Feb 24th 2020, 11:57 AM

    Please help me understand what is meant by nbsp ???

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    Mute Clive A. Jordan
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    Feb 24th 2020, 12:11 PM

    @Matt Heffernan: It’s just a special kind of “behind the scenes” non breaking space that wasn’t encoded properly.

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    Mute Pat Kelly
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    Feb 24th 2020, 12:26 PM

    What on earth would you be doing hanging around a park after dark in the first place? Unless you have to cut through one to get home at night.

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    Mute SC
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    Feb 24th 2020, 5:35 PM

    @Pat Kelly: usually to cut through one, but also to clear my head sometimes.

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    Mute Pauline Gallagher
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    Feb 24th 2020, 11:51 AM

    Thats probably the dumbest question yet. The only people who arent afraid are the ones looking for trouble.

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    Mute Mark Dooley
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    Feb 24th 2020, 12:39 PM

    @Pauline Gallagher: Too true. Also the case that men might feel safe in a situation that women don’t. No one ‘catch all’ solution for safety or the illusion of it

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    Mute Hakaman
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    Feb 24th 2020, 1:29 PM

    I do feel pretty safe

    Then again, I am 1.95M tall and 117KGs, so that acts as a deterrent to them naughty scallywags.

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    Mute Bernie Kenny
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    Feb 24th 2020, 12:06 PM

    What a ridiculous request… its difficult and costly enough to provide street lighting without lighting up parks. Cop on people PLEASE!!

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    Mute Margaret Mcgarry
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    Feb 24th 2020, 4:59 PM

    New questionnaire “ do you feel safe in public parks in daytime?”

    7
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    Mute John Judd
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    Feb 24th 2020, 3:54 PM

    Who walks around parks at night ? ?

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    Mute Sirius
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    Feb 24th 2020, 1:55 PM

    Yes but my local park is in Dunmore East so, it’s not exactly a hive of criminal activity.

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    Mute The only INFP in Ireland
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    Feb 24th 2020, 11:38 AM

    I was just thinking the other day that there aren’t enough parks around..oh well

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    Mute Sinead Redden Kenny
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    Feb 24th 2020, 2:49 PM

    Never walk alone

    5
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    Mute Davis Payne
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    Feb 24th 2020, 5:44 PM

    so give up and let the delinquents rule the night?

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    Mute Anne
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    Feb 24th 2020, 9:02 PM

    I dont feel safe on the street after dark!

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    Mute SC
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    Feb 24th 2020, 5:33 PM

    I’ve rarely heard of anything happening in the park. I have no problem in it at night, though I prefer the seafront at night. We’re spoilt up here in Balbriggan!

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    Mute Anthony Christoper Mc Garth
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    Feb 24th 2020, 6:04 PM

    Yeah I do alright… I’m scared S***Less of werewolves

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    Mute Terry Burns
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    Mar 2nd 2020, 1:24 AM

    Why ask questions like that

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    Mute Genericwhitemale
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    Feb 24th 2020, 6:35 PM

    Night time is the best time

    1
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