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Gardaí patrolling in Dublin city yesterday evening. RollingNews.ie

Garda Commissioner says 'young drunk' people responsible for violence in Dublin city

Harris rejected criticism that the garda response in Dublin may have been over-reactionary.

GARDA COMMISSIONER DREW Harris has said an element of young drunk people are responsible for causing violent disturbances in Dublin City over the bank holiday weekend.

He also singled out the selling of take-away alcohol from licensed premises, which he said led to people drinking in public places where attacks on gardaí, criminal damage and general public disorder took place. 

Speaking in Limerick today, Commissioner Harris said: “What we had last weekend was violence due to large amounts of young people, who had drink taken, some of them were very drunk, but then there was an element within that group who were intent on trouble, and causing damage and causing violence”.

“There were attacks on members of An Garda Síochána, there were assaults within groups, fighting within the crowds, and there was also criminal damage, and we have a responsibility to respond to that.”

Last weekend’s incidents were “a spontaneous gathering of those young people, and we didn’t have a control of it, and we didn’t have a means of licensing it”, Harris said.

In effect we had to deal with individuals that turned up, and the difference from the weekend before seems to be, that there was a group intent on causing harm through violence or criminal damage through the burning of bins.

“I think over the last number of weeks we’ve had a particular imbalance in the (drinks) licence industry, in that, we’ve had either carry-out drinks or carry-out pints, and licensed premises do bring an element or order and they should conduct — and the great majority well conduct their businesses, and that brings some order — and what we’ve had is not events, but just people congregating, there’s a lot of drink being taken and inevitably that has ended up then in public order difficulties that we’ve had to deal with,” he added.

Harris rejected criticism that the garda response in Dublin may have been over-reactionary.

He said gardaí were simply doing their job by responding to violent events: “I would say that our use of force and our policing tactics were appropriate to the situation that we faced, and I would reiterate that, in acting in how we did, I believe we prevented the situation from deteriorating further.”

We could already see there was damage being caused and we could see there were groups fighting amongst themselves within that crowd, and there were sustained attacks on members of An Garda Síochána through bottles being thrown.

“So, that is a situation that we can’t allow just to escalate and we can’t allow for that to continue – we have to act to preserve the peace, and to prevent crime, and that’s done in order to protect people and our own members on duty.”

Harris said people were entitled to make a complaint to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) if they wanted, adding, “every use of force is reported upon and is assessed and if members of the public wish to make complaints they can to the independent GSOC who will investigate those, and indeed we will be held to account by both the Policing Authority, and the minister”

Minister for Justice, Heather Humphreys, said last weekend’s trouble in Dublin was caused by “only a small number of people” and “the majority of people who have been out and about across the length and breadth of the country have behaved in a very responsible way”.

Humphreys said she was “delighted of course that the pubs and restaurants will be open to outdoor dining, and people will have more space and more seating arrangements available to them”.

She praised the cooperation between businesses, communities, and gardaí, in managing the phased summer reopening.

The minister rejected any notion that gardaí did not have a plan in place to deal with large crowds: “I don’t agree with that, an expansive plan was put in place and it worked effectively right across the country – there were a number of instances in (Dublin) city that have been highlighted and were dealt with appropriately”.

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    Mute Karl Phillips
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    Jun 7th 2021, 6:00 PM

    If these little darlings were behaving themselves there would be no need for the guards, and you are responsible for your own actions.

    1115
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    Mute john
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    Jun 7th 2021, 6:45 PM

    @Karl Phillips: your right and if the guards did nothing they would be criticised for it and when do there jobs they are still criticised and from sleeping Beauty

    549
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    Mute Philip Duffy
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    Jun 7th 2021, 6:19 PM

    The vast majority were in town to enjoy themselves. A small minority were in town to create trouble and destroy the occasion for everyone. The Gardai were correct to respond as they did.

    716
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    Mute Damon Johnson
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    Jun 7th 2021, 9:21 PM

    @Philip Duffy: Extra Weetabix in morning for them…put more power into the baton swings!..

    86
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    Mute Philip Duffy
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    Jun 7th 2021, 9:51 PM

    @Damon Johnson: Only if required. Garda response must always be proportionate. But your suggestion is valid.

    35
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    Mute Fintan O'Halloran
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    Jun 8th 2021, 1:27 AM

    @Philip Duffy: what was going on in town. There were no pubs open, there were no restaurants open. So for what reason were they in town. It’s nothing about a minority or not. They had no reason to be there other than to create mayhem.

    31
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    Mute GrumpyAulFella
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    Jun 7th 2021, 5:56 PM

    Startling revelation by Harris and there was everyone thinking that it was gangs of sober geriatrics causing the trouble.

    189
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    Mute Michael Healy
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    Jun 7th 2021, 6:09 PM

    @GrumpyAulFella: just don’t ask him about anything in relation to MI6 or collusion, then he hasn’t a clue what’s going on for some reason..

    111
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    Mute michael
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    Jun 7th 2021, 7:03 PM

    @Michael Healy: Agent of the crown

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    Mute GrumpyAulFella
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    Jun 7th 2021, 7:39 PM

    @Michael Healy: bit like Gerry Adams and his amnesia when it comes to IRA membership. Selective amnesia is what they call it I believe.

    19
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    Mute Michael Healy
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    Jun 7th 2021, 7:46 PM

    @GrumpyAulFella: very true but aul Gerry isn’t in power or in charge of the gardai. I’d save that excuse for when the shinners get power and not just living rent free in your head…the irony is the FFG mob knew of MI6 drews dodgy past, and still put him in charge….Great thinking all round sure

    39
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    Mute GrumpyAulFella
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    Jun 7th 2021, 9:24 PM

    @Michael Healy: you’re right Gerry isn’t in power. We should be thankful for small mercies. Let’s face it, apart from having a dig at the gardai, the Shinners and the lady from Rathgar have been fairly quiet on the subject. “The last thing we need on the streets of Dublin is the gardaí baton-charging large groups of people on the street,” Ms McDonald said.

    10
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    Mute Franny Ando
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    Jun 7th 2021, 6:25 PM

    Several years ago I spent a long weekend in Dublin. Went for a drink in Temple bar (1st and definitely last time). Between Stags, Hens and others, some who were drinking outdoors, there were more arrested or moved on in one hour then in the whole of this last weekend. All done quickly without riot gear and baton wielding officers. The “drama” of the last 7 days has been blown out of proportion. It may not be right but its definitely nothing new. Time to stop with the outraged tweets and click bait headlines. Get Government, Gardai and D.C.C together to sort out this mess properly.

    160
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    Mute dublindamo
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    Jun 7th 2021, 8:40 PM

    @Franny Ando: as messy as some groups get in Temple Bar they don’t start pelting the Gardai with bottles

    77
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    Mute Franny Ando
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    Jun 7th 2021, 9:38 PM

    @dublindamo: No they were using glasses.

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    Mute Dave O'Keeffe
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    Jun 7th 2021, 9:49 PM

    @Franny Ando: dancing on cars? Attacking shopkeepers for a laugh? There’s a substantial difference.

    31
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    Mute Aidocasey
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    Jun 8th 2021, 5:47 AM

    @Franny Ando: you weren’t there so don’t know it was like…..

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    Mute Simon Gynn
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    Jun 7th 2021, 9:02 PM

    There seems to be no understanding from people about the fact there’s a few gangs of youths around the city on a nightly basis. They have one thing in mind… That’s to terrorise. Climbing on cars, throwing things at innocent passers by, robbing shops and being generally violent and horrible. Nothing, I mean nothing at all gets done. The gardaí aren’t to blame because they aren’t allowed to do anything with underage and no one else can do anything becsause they’ll be prosecuted. These teenage gangs are becoming a huge problem around the city, something needs to be done

    131
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    Mute Denis K
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    Jun 7th 2021, 6:05 PM

    A small minority of d..heads causing trouble, most people having a few in the sunshine. Will always be a few messers but this generalizing that all those in town on a Saturday night are thugs is extreme.

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    Mute Tom Ripley
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    Jun 7th 2021, 6:09 PM

    @Denis K: did he say everybody because I don’t see that

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    Mute frank_66
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    Jun 7th 2021, 6:38 PM

    drew harris knows a lot of things like all the sectarian killings by his buddy’s in the north when he was a ruc man ,but he turned a blind eye to that !!!

    69
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    Mute Eugene Norman
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    Jun 7th 2021, 10:53 PM

    @frank_66: what’s that got to do with drunk youths.

    29
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    Mute Bala mc blaha
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    Jun 7th 2021, 10:06 PM

    Name and shame, under 18′s hiding behind that loophole for far too long. Then drag their parents through the courts, that will put an end to their antics.

    61
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    Mute Drunk in Dublin
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    Jun 8th 2021, 7:29 AM

    @Bala mc blaha: their parents really do have a lot to answer for

    16
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    Mute Csilla
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    Jun 7th 2021, 7:22 PM

    Just put them all on the streets to clean up the mess for the summer, everything not just rubbish. Would learn very fast how to behave.

    72
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    Mute Michael Healy
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    Jun 8th 2021, 11:39 AM

    @Csilla: the blood councils who we actually pay won’t even put in extra bins or clean up the streets normally, never mind making these lads do it

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    Mute Michael Healy
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    Jun 7th 2021, 5:56 PM

    Cheers for the Jeff, back to the studio for more analysis…

    23
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    Mute Eoin Fitzgerald
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    Jun 7th 2021, 6:45 PM

    @Michael Healy: ‘has there been a red card? I mustn’t have seen that’

    5
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    Mute Dean
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    Jun 7th 2021, 6:16 PM

    Scapegoating the youth? They need to stand up for themselves. Adults would have their heads on a spike if they could.

    Adults worry me more

    28
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    Mute Brian Tierney
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    Jun 7th 2021, 6:37 PM

    @Dean: you obviously didn’t hang around dublin this weekend. Was much much worse than any Paddy’s Day, Stephen’s Day or Halloween I’ve ever seen.
    From what I seen with my own eyes the guards were quite restrained. If that happened in any other country the culprits would be black and blue today from the beating they would receive. They should have cracked down on those causing trouble and piled them into cages like rats so the rest of us can enjoy ourselves.
    Getting rowdy after a few drinks in the sun is pretty common in this country, but this weekend was one of a kind

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    Mute Hans Stofberg
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    Jun 8th 2021, 8:58 AM

    There is plenty video footage so to find them can not be too hard.

    7
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    Mute Brian Kelly
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    Jun 8th 2021, 9:00 AM

    Tell you what we need here! Like what they have in Spain the “Guardia Civil” they are of military in nature and they take no crap at all. Ive seen them in opperation in San Antonio Ibiza over the years with hooligans from ireland and the UK. You wont step out of line again once they have dealt with you! Bring in the army.

    16
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    Mute Max Bailey
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    Jun 7th 2021, 11:36 PM

    OVER HERE EVERYONE…. BLAME THE YOUNG PEOPLE! TERRIBLE YOUNG PEOPLE! DON’T BE LOOKING ELSEWHERE, JUST BLAME THESE YOUNGSTERS WHO JUST SO HAPPEN TO HAVE THE LOWEST VOTER TURNOUT.

    11
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    Mute Sean Baxter
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    Jun 7th 2021, 7:27 PM

    That’s some surprise that!

    4
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    Mute John Fagan
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    Jun 7th 2021, 8:02 PM

    That’s right. They brought the shields and batons.

    3
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