Attacks on gay men prompt CCTV plea

Tuesday, January 17, 2006 - 05:51 PM

Gardaí and Dublin City Council must step up protection of the gay community following a number of attacks in the city centre, Labour’s Joe Costello said today.

The party’s justice spokesman said CCTV must be installed and intensive surveillance implemented following separate assaults on two gay men near Christchurch in recent weeks.

“Last year in the wake of the vicious attack on Brian O’Callaghan, who was left in a coma for months, both Gardaí and Dublin City Council promised to install CCTV in the area,” he said.

“So far nothing has been done, and in the meantime, attacks have escalated.

“Dublin City Council also made a commitment to install better lighting there, but have not acted on it, while Gardaí promised to intensify surveillance in the area.”

Mr Costello said assaults could have been prevented if the measures had been put in place.

“This brutal attacker, or group of attackers, is singling out men on their way from city centre gay clubs and members of the gay community are understandably very frightened about this.

“These attacks are happening in a small area, so what is needed is intensive surveillance.

“Gardaí must take steps to root out this problem and catch the offender,” he urged.