Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, as seen above posing with PSNI officers, says he has no problem walking around Dublin without a Garda escort, despite growing security concerns in the capital, reports The Mirror.
Meanwhile, three British tourists are recovering from being beaten in Temple Bar on Friday night resulting in them being rushed to hospital.
In a wide-ranging interview with The Irish Mirror, Mr Varadkar said he is comfortable walking around areas such as Parnell Street and O’Connell Street and felt safe.
The Taoiseach spoke to this newspaper after a number of high-profile attacks in Dublin over the past few weeks.
Last month, American tourist Stephen Termini was attacked by a group of youths on Talbot Street in north Dublin. He reportedly suffered life-changing injuries.
Several teenagers were later arrested and charged with involvement in the incident.
Two men were attacked in Camden Street in the south of the city in the early hours of Sunday morning.
An English tourist was knocked unconscious by two women. Later his phone was stolen.
The same two women are suspected of carrying out a similar attack on another man in the nearby Wexford Street area an hour later. A second man, who lives in Dublin and is in his 20s, was also knocked out.
Would the Taoiseach walk around Dublin without Garda protection and feel safe?
“Oh, yeah, I would. With or without Garda escort, I am in Dublin all the time. I was on Parnell Street [on Tuesday]. I was in Musashi Sushi for some sushi and then I went to the Cineworld to watch Oppenheimer. Yes, I do have a plainclothes Garda person but I didn’t need it. I got a smart remark from one or two people on the street, but sure I can get that in Donnybrook or any part of the country,” Mr Varadkar said, reports The Mirror.
According to a report from the Irish Mirror, the number of women who were murdered in 2022 has doubled compared to the previous year.
“I think assaults can happen anywhere. Not just in Dublin, but in any part of the country and also in any part of the world. And the facts bear that out,” the Taoiseach continued, reports The Mirror.
Ógra Fianna Fáil called for Minister McEntee to resign earlier this week, criticising the “erosion of law and order” under 12 years of Fine Gael leadership in the Department of Justice.
Tell us your thoughts in the Facebook post and share this with your friends.