Child sexual assault and indecent exposures among 4,300 complaints made to Irish Rail last year

There were frequent instances of racist abuse on train services last year

A government TD is now calling for a dedicated public transport unit of An Garda Síochána. File picture

Irish Rail received nearly 4,300 messages to its dedicated text line for reporting antisocial behaviour on train services last year, with passengers complaining about drug use, violence, sexual assault, and indecent exposure.

Among the incidents reported in 2024 include a man defecating in the middle of a carriage, a fist-fight involving a man and a woman, a passenger brandishing a sword, and a child allegedly being sexually assaulted.