FF Condemns Tourist Attack In Dublin

A tourist has been attacked with a broken bottle in Dublin.

The incident occurred while the man was waiting for a sightseeing tour bus on O'Connell Street.

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Dublin Senator Darragh O'Brien condemned the attack.

Senator O'Brien said: "It is outrageous that an innocent tourist who had only arrived in Ireland two hours earlier is attacked on our main thoroughfare while waiting to board a tour bus.

"This attack happened in the middle of the day on the country's main street. Quite frankly, it is a sickening indictment of this Government's justice policy and of their policy of continuous cuts to garda resources.

"This is not a once off incident. More than 700 tourists reported that they were mugged in Ireland last year, with the vast majority of these crimes taking place in Dublin.

"Most were targeted in broad daylight during the afternoon while sightseeing, shopping and socialising in town and most victims were women aged between 17 and 25."

Senator O'Brien is calling on the Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald to establish a stand-alone Public Order Unit for Dublin City Centre.

He continued: "We need to properly resource the gardaí in Dublin and establish a high visibility garda team active in the city centre who can reassure citizens and tourists alike that Dublin is a place for ordinary law abiding citizens to go about their business."

(CD/JP)