Stall owners: 'Gangs are stopping people shopping in Dublin's Moore Street'

A decision to grant four extra permits for stalls in Dublin's Moore Street has been welcomed.

The number of traders at the historic marketplace has dwindled since the 1990s when the council stopped handing out new licenses.

It was to allow a shopping centre to be built but the plans fell through and subsequent proposals still have not got off the ground.

Stephen Troy's family has run a butchers on Moore Street for 100 years and he said investment is badly needed.

"The Moore Street traders have been promised facilities for over a 10 year period now," said Mr Troy.

"They've no toilets, they've no proper lighting.

"It would appear Dublin City Council are waiting on a private developer to invest in the area before these facilities are actually introduced, or whether they will ever be introduced."

However, stall owners say gangs are stopping people from shopping in the area and that although Garda patrols in recent weeks have helped alleviate the problem, the anti-social behaviour has since returned.

Caroline Alrright, who has had a stall for 42 years said: "They be drinking there, they be fighting, they'll gather and be the whole length of this street. All over it.

"People won't come in when they see all them gangs like that. They're screaming and shouting. They're going to the toilet down that lane. Cans will be just left on the ground. It's terrible. Dublin City Council don't care about Moore Street anymore."