Sir, – In Helen McEntee’s first year as Minister for Justice, Urantsetseg Tserendorj, a Mongolian woman working in Dublin, was stabbed near Store Street Garda station. Ms Tserendorj’s untimely death was a warning of the consequences of surrendering control of the inner city.
Last week another foreigner was assaulted in the same area, this time an American tourist. It prompted Ms McEntee’s well-publicised safari into Talbot Street. Her subsequent claim that “our city is safe” would be laughable were the consequences of her negligence less grave.
This escalating crisis shows how disconnected from reality the Government has become. We need a Minister who spends less time inventing laws; making sure our existing laws are kept is clearly a full-time job. – Yours, etc,
AIDAN HARTE,
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Naas,
Co Kildare.
Sir, – Laura Hutton’s photograph (July 22nd) of Ministers walking safely in Dublin, accompanied by two members of An Garda Síochána, was most reassuring.
Just one question. When next in Dublin, where do I pick up my personal Garda escort? – Yours, etc,
JOHN MacKENNA,
Royal Oak,
Co Carlow.
Sir, – Una Mullally (“Getting tough on Dublin ‘thuggery’ won’t solve the city’s fundamental problem”, Opinion & Analysis, July 24th) mentions that Harbour Court has been closed off because it is too unsafe, bemoaning the fact that it has been surrendered rather than made safe.
Two paragraphs later she claims there are no “no-go areas” in Dublin, dismissing this as unhelpful hyperbole.
Which is it? – Is mise,
KATIE HARRINGTON,
Dunmore,
Co Galway.
Sir, – Are we to take it that in future, visitors to Dublin, like the Minister for Justice, will be provided a Garda escort to ensure that their experience of Dublin is a safe one? – Is mise,
DONAL KNIGHT,
Naas,
Co Kildare.
Sir, – I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at the photo of Helen McEntee and Paschal Donohoe walking down Talbot Street with two gardaí and announcing how safe it was!
Are they really so removed from reality?
Unbelievable! – Yours, etc,
JANE BEHAN,
Baldoyle,
Dublin 13.
Sir, – As a very senior citizen I would have no problem walking in the area off Talbot Street, or even in Talbot Street, in the middle of the night if I had two senior gardaí to accompany me. I would also be happy to do it by day without any accompanying gardaí. I would be even happier if either of these walks resulted in my photo on the front page of The Irish Times. – Yours, etc,
KATHLEEN FORDE,
Whitehall,
Dublin 9.