Sir, – Nora Scott (May 30th) eloquently described her harrowing evening stroll on Dublin’s O’Connell Street. Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, she encountered various displays of anti-social behaviour, some of which were violent and made her feel threatened. Needless to say her unpleasant experience has become the norm in centre city Dublin, exposing numerous citizens and visitors alike to a vile and uncivil atmosphere.
I can remember 40 years ago when I was residing on Pembroke Road. I was a young lad from down the country who enthusiastically trod the streets of Dublin on a daily basis seeking out fabulous works of architecture, meeting inspirational characters and feeling the various vibrations of the very soul of the Old Smoke. Never once in my day and night explorations did I see violence or other serious activities. Certainly, there were the over-imbibers meandering along from time to time, but they went on their way with the odd tip of the cap and I went mine, rarely a word exchanged.
At the end of her letter Ms Scott asks: As a citizen of Dublin haven’t I got the right to walk the streets without fear? In answer to the question I have to ask an important question of the leaders of this country: When did the ordinary citizen, accosted by thugs on the streets of Ireland, simply become unheard and unseen entities in the human drama of good versus evil while the criminals were cast in the role of the victims? – Yours, etc,
EDWARD D RAFFERTY,
Mill Park,
Castlebridge,
Co Wexford.