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File image of Grand Canal Square and the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre Alamy Stock Photo

Locals say ‘things getting worse’ after teenagers throw fireworks at Grand Canal Square dancers

Gardaí say investigations are ongoing.

MEMBERS OF THE public have said they were “heartbroken” by an incident at Grand Canal Square yesterday where a group of teenagers threw fireworks at people who were salsa dancing.

A similar incident happened last week and a video was posted online which showed fireworks being directed towards the water as dozens of passersby were also seen in the vicinity. 

The Lord Mayor of Dublin, James Geoghegan, said it was a miracle no one was injured and decried the behaviour as “mindless and dangerous”.

Jim called Liveline to say he was salsa dancing yesterday outside of the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre and described it as a “family day with children”.

However, a group of teenagers then came on bikes and started throwing fireworks at the group.

Jim added that one of the dancers was assaulted.

Speaking to Liveline on RTÉ, Jim said the incident began at around 7pm when a group on bikes began “circling us”.

“Then they started letting off fireworks around 10 meters away from us and they started setting off bangers and getting closer to us,” Jim said.

He said the dancers then became “nervous” and “concerned”.

Jim said the teenagers were “chased away” and that he called gardaí at 7.30pm to “let them know what was happening”.

Soon after, Jim said the group “came back and started aiming the fireworks at us”.

“One of the fireworks exploded in the group and nearly hit one of the kids,” he said.

He added that one of the dancers “pushed one of the guys that was firing the fireworks at us off the bike and as a return, he got punched in the face”.

“Then more of their friends came back and started throwing bikes at us and threatening us,” said Jim, who alleged that one of the group shouted “I’m going to kill you”.

He said the guards “turned up around an hour later”.

Property developer Harry Crosbie also phoned Liveline and said he saw the incident.

Crosbie said he’s lived and worked in the area his whole life and that “there is a serious problem” when he has to “ring up the radio and tell you that I was scared”.

He described the incident as “shocking” and said one of the big problems in the area is that it is not properly lit and that businesses should leave their lights on.

Crosbie said things are “definitely” getting worse and that it “broke my heart to see what happened the other night”.

Another caller who also witnessed the incident said the group of teenagers “were prowling around the area on their electric bikes so you couldn’t catch them”.

“It was so menacing,” she said.

“After they attacked the salsa dancers, they were getting closer and throwing the fireworks around the Bord Gáis and then I saw him throw the fireworks at the crowd of dancers.

“I was so scared because it was so dangerous and there was no security in the area.”

In a statement to The Journal, a garda spokesperson said gardaí received a report of fireworks being let off in the direction of people at Grand Canal Dock last night and that investigations are ongoing at this time.

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    Mute Seymour business
    Favourite Seymour business
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    Feb 28th 2017, 8:36 PM

    Always seemed to me to be genuinely committed to getting to the truth. Rare enough in big party politics.

    209
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    Mute Randal McNally
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    Feb 28th 2017, 11:50 PM

    Rare ? You mean “Never Seen” !

    22
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    Mute MuckyMoo
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    Feb 28th 2017, 8:35 PM

    RIP. One of the good guys in politics

    216
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    Mute Euro is Dead
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    Feb 28th 2017, 9:48 PM

    Cometh the hour, Cometh the man. He will be sorely missed. Ar Dheis De go Raibh a Anam

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    Mute Willie Bill Bryan
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    Feb 28th 2017, 8:51 PM

    One of the good ones RIP Peter

    137
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    Mute John McGuirk
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    Feb 28th 2017, 8:44 PM

    This is a beaufifully written obituary. I’m always first to criticise the Journal when it gets it wrong, but this is a great piece of Journalism. Well done Orla Ryan.

    141
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    Mute Tony Daly
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    Feb 28th 2017, 8:37 PM

    He was well intentioned, principled, noble, decent and fair minded.

    He saw through thevdysfunctionality and malgovernance of the Banks, as well as the deleterious effect of the banking abuses on society.

    149
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    Mute Charlie Wrex
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    Feb 28th 2017, 9:01 PM

    Always struck me as a man of principle, good humour, and great insight. One of the good guys.

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    Mute Sean @114
    Favourite Sean @114
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    Feb 28th 2017, 9:27 PM

    His tussles with Vincent Brown were legendary. RIP.

    94
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    Mute Emmet O'Keeffe
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    Feb 28th 2017, 9:21 PM

    Always managed to get right under Vincent Browne’s skin.

    84
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    Mute Patrick j Brady
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    Feb 28th 2017, 9:27 PM

    RIP….a man of principles. . Called it as it was…. sadly not many td’s like him…

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    Mute FlopFlipU
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    Feb 28th 2017, 9:25 PM

    A good apple in a barrel of bad ones rip

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    Mute Paul Lane
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    Feb 28th 2017, 10:13 PM

    A genuinly good guy, albeit I disagreed with a lot he had to say, but he was always very brave on Vincent Browne and sadly missed. What a loss

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    Mute Sparxz1
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    Feb 28th 2017, 9:58 PM

    No place in Lenster house for Men of High Calibre and noble principle !
    The Face of Kenny & so-called Dr O’Reilly laughing at dying man(he had already being diagnosed).
    I wonder how many are thinking today, that Lenister house cannot be reformed, & will have to be abolished to some how save the Irish Nation.

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    Mute Diarmuid Doran
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    Feb 28th 2017, 9:43 PM

    Nice tribute Orla.

    52
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    Mute Phil O'Donnell
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    Feb 28th 2017, 10:31 PM

    Sincere condolences to your family and friends. Would not have agreed with you on all policies but was a huge admirer. In my opinion a person of hige integrity and in politics for all the right reasons. R.I.P..

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    Mute Kerry Blake
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    Feb 28th 2017, 8:44 PM

    “Kenny said he was “deeply saddened” by Mathews’ death” hypocrite…..

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    Mute Mick Rick Jones
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    Mar 13th 2017, 7:42 PM

    @Kerry Blake: your comment is spot on, and can be extended to others in Fine Gael and Labour leadership , who drove Matthews and other decent people of conscience, out of the Dail.

    Their hypocrisy extends along the Fine Gael front bench, to Labour as well. No room for conscience on abortion there.

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    Mute the truth
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    Feb 28th 2017, 10:51 PM

    struck me as a genuine fella who wanted to make a difference then realised he hadn’t a hope of being allowed do anything .

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    Mute Noel Holland
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    Feb 28th 2017, 10:42 PM

    RIP peter mathews. That u tube video is worth a watch….

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    Mute Randal McNally
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    Feb 28th 2017, 11:48 PM

    Yes. He asked the hard questions and got few answers from our “Closed Ranked” political and unaccountable civil service parasites ! RIP

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    Mute Aindriú Purfield
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    Mar 1st 2017, 3:57 AM

    Noonan knows nothing about Economics or Finance.

    He’s just a perfect lackey for the ECB and the eurogroup and that is why he was put where he was.

    History has already absolved honest and intelligent politicians like Matthews and shown up Noonan and Kenny for the slimy subhuman worms that they are.

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    Mute William Kelly
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    Mar 1st 2017, 8:11 AM

    Our electoral system yields up some TDs of quality, who stand out from the party foot soldiers as professional, & strong in character, & who genuinely seem intent on contributing to building a better society. Mr. Mathews was one that few, but the stultified & whipped party system failed to recognise & give scope for that powerful intellectual commitment to the community. That his challenges to the “system” we’re smothered by his own party is yet another bad reflection on their recent form.

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    Mute Eoghan Pettit
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    Mar 1st 2017, 12:05 PM

    He was thoughtful, reasonable, well spoken and his own man. Very sad for his family. RIP

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    Mute KerryBlueMike
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    Mar 1st 2017, 10:21 PM

    Rip Peter, you did well sir.

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    Mute Mick Rick Jones
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    Mar 13th 2017, 7:37 PM

    Peter Matthews bravely, with a few others, opposed the Kenny/Labour abortion bill in 2013..

    Like Lucinda Creighton, B Timmons,T Flanagan — all Fine Gael TDs, driven from Fine Gael and the Dail, shamefully refused a free, conscientious vote — Peter Matthews, for his honest principles and stand aginst abortion, was also driven out of Fine Gael, for upholding their election promise not to legalise abortion.

    I hope none of the Fine Gael/Labour pro abortion hierarchy, who refused him and others that free vote of conscience on abortion, show their shameful faces at his funeral, or insult his decent memory now, with their customary crocodile tears of condolence.

    In 2013, we saw how they treated him and others.

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