A Fianna Fáil councillor has said increased high-visibility policing has helped improve safety in Dublin, while acknowledging that serious assaults continue to have a significant impact on local communities, reports RTE.
Cllr Rory Hogan made the remarks following the death of 21-year-old Qayyum Balogun, who died after an assault in Dublin city centre during the early hours of Monday morning, reports RTE.
Mr Balogun was discovered in a critical condition on Clarendon Street, near Grafton Street, at approximately 3am and was taken to St James’s Hospital, where he later died, reports RTE.
A 19-year-old woman was also injured during the incident and received hospital treatment for injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening, reports RTE.
Speaking on Morning Ireland, Hogan described the attack as a deeply disturbing event that no one wants to see occurring on Dublin’s streets, reports RTE.
He said incidents of this nature have devastating consequences not only for the victim’s family but also for the wider community, reports RTE.
Hogan noted that gardaí responded to the scene within minutes of the incident being reported, reports RTE.
When asked whether people could still feel safe in Dublin following the fatal assault, he said it was important to distinguish between the emotional impact of a shocking incident and broader crime trends, reports RTE.
He stated that overall crime figures in Dublin have fallen year-on-year and argued that the capital is safer today than it was several years ago, reports RTE.
As a member of the local Community Safety Partnership, Hogan said the fatal assault would be discussed at the organisation’s next meeting with senior garda representatives and community stakeholders, reports RTE.
He said it would be important to examine whether any wider lessons can be learned from the incident and whether additional measures may be required to enhance public safety in the area, reports RTE.
Hogan also highlighted Community Safety Wardens as one possible initiative to help reduce crime, pointing to a programme introduced in Dublin’s north inner city in 2022, reports RTE.
He said the scheme focuses on proactive intervention and de-escalation to prevent situations from developing into more serious incidents, reports RTE.
Despite improvements in overall crime statistics, Hogan stressed that those trends do not diminish the tragedy of what happened or the suffering caused by the fatal assault, reports RTE.
Gardaí continue to appeal for witnesses who were in the Grafton Street and Clarendon Street area between 2am and 3.30am on June 1, reports RTE.
Investigators are also seeking any CCTV, mobile phone or dash-cam footage that may assist their inquiries and have asked anyone with information to contact Pearse Street Garda Station, the Garda Confidential Line, or any Garda station, reports RTE.
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