Garda operation aims to clean up O’Connell St ahead of 1916 centenary

One of the country’s leading gardaí has revealed he is determined to make O’Connell Street safe for the centenary of the 1916 Rising.

RTÉ star Ryan Tubridy recently branded O’Connell Street “probably the biggest kip of a street in the country” telling his listeners how Ireland’s main street appeared to be full of drug addicts.

The RTÉ documentary, The Street, highlights the harsh realities of drug-taking by filming private rubbish collectors cleaning syringes and other drug paraphernalia off the lanes around the historic street.

Superintendent Sean Ward of Store St, who is heading up Operation Spire, said the initiative, which uses undercover officers as well as uniformed police on O’Connell Street is aimed at making the population feel safe again on the capital’s main street.

“In two years time we’ll be marking the 100th anniversary of the 1916 Rising so it is important our main street looks well and everybody can feel safe when they come into it.”

Longstanding street newsagent, Austin Cregan, revealed drug dealing has been operating openly on O’Connell Street in recent years.

“Prescription drugs and hash or heroin really kicked off very openly about five or six years ago. Before that you knew it went on but it was more around the corner at the back of a lane but it just got to a stage where it got crazy.”

The RTÉ documentary gives a compelling snapshot of the capital city’s best known thoroughfare, which had a footfall of 27 million last year.

The Street, will be shown on RTÉ One on Tuesday July 15 at 21.35pm