Garda chief attacks Temple Bar crime reports

A top garda chief today hit out at suggestions that Dublin’s popular Temple Bar area was not safe for tourists.

Assistant Garda Commissioner Kevin Carty criticised media reports claiming officers were turning a blind eye to drug addicts in the capital’s designated cultural area.

He said portrayals of Temple Bar as dangerous were “totally false“.

“My message is, it is actually safe here,” he said.

“There have been problems in this area. But those problems are not as extreme as they are being portrayed.

“Taking account of the amount of people moving through Temple Bar, the amount coming into contact with the gardai is actually small.”

Temple Bar – a favourite with holidaymakers in the Irish capital – hit the headlines recently when a newspaper printed photographs showing heroin addicts injecting themselves there during the afternoon.

It was claimed that gardai spoke to the users but did not arrest them, and that the offenders later returned.

Assistant Commissioner Carty said the photographs actually showed two different groups of drug users.

“I believe the incident was not accurately portrayed he said.

“Things should be taken in perspective. Any idea that Temple Bar is not safe is totally false. It is safe for everybody to go about their business lawfully.”

He was speaking at the launch of a crime prevention leaflet aimed at cracking down on crime in Temple Bar.

The brochure, compiled by Traders in the Area Supporting the Cultural Quarter (TASCQ), offers practical tips for businesses to reduce crime.

Asst. Commissioner Carty said the launch had been planned long before the recent article concerning drug use in the area, and denied it was a “knee-jerk reaction“.

He added: “At times the gardai are accused of not reaching out to the community. This is a perfect example of the gardai reaching out and working with the community.”

The leaflet claims that about 28% of crime in the Temple Bar area consisted of property being stolen from the inside of premises.

It urged publicans, clients and businesses in the area to work together to combat problems.

“Everybody has a responsibility here,” Asst. Commissioner Carty said.

“People don’t just happen to get drunk when they arrive out on the street.

“People get drunk on the premises before they leave. It is up to publicans to make sure this does not happen.

“We are looking forward to working with everybody and playing our part.”

Dermot McLaughlin, chief executive of Temple Bar Properties, said: “This is a perfect example of how local businesses are working in partnership with the gardai to combat crime.

“Crime accounts for significant cost to society and can be a serious barrier to economic development."