Women in Cork carrying Deep Heat spray as they feel unsafe on city streets

One person said she thought about taking a knife with her

A garda spokesman urged anyone with concerns to contact them.

Women in Cork are carrying deep heat spray and personal alarms when on the city’s streets because they don’t feel safe, with one saying she has thought about taking a knife with her after an incident in the city centre.

Women spoke about their fear of walking alone in comments following a post on TikTok by Naoise O’Shea, who told of how she was intimidated by a man on Shandon Street in the city shortly before 8pm on Sunday night.

She said that the incident occurred at the foot of Shandon Street after she stopped to adjust her bag and check her phone. She noticed a man stop on the footpath who kept looking at her. She asked if he was alright and he asked if she saw a girl being attacked in the area some time earlier. He then approached her and asked her a number of times where she lived.

She said she then ran up Shandon Street, shouting for help.

Subsequently, she posted a warning on TikTok account, to which several others responded with similar stories of being approached or followed by men. She usually carries a panic alarm but didn’t have it on Sunday night. However, felt she would not have had time to take it out on Sunday night if she had carried it with her.

A woman who replied to Naoise’s post said she had been followed on South Mall two months ago at around midnight one night. While she told the Irish Examiner she did not want to be identified, she said that after her experience, she has on occasion considered taking a knife with her when going out in Cork city. She was asked afterwards why she had not taken public transport and said she does not feel safe doing so because of previous incidents involving attacks on women.

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A different woman posted that she had been followed to her car on Grattan Street over a week ago while another poster wrote of having had her photo taken without her permission by a man who was walking on South Douglas Road after she got out of her car.

Several women advised others to take products such as Deep Heat spray, deodorant and personal alarms with them while out, with one saying that a small can of Deep Heat would function “like pepper spray”.

Another said that she carries a personal alarm and a stun taser with her.

A garda spokesman urged anyone with concerns to contact them.

He said: “An Garda Síochána continues to treat all instances of gender based violence as a priority and once again re-enforce our commitment to ‘keeping people safe’, and in particular the victims of domestic and sexual abuse. As was the case in previous years, An Garda Síochána will again be supporting the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign, which will take place this year between Monday, 25th November 2024 and Tuesday, 10th December 2024. An Garda Síochána continues to introduce and implement a number of measures to support victims of gender based violence.” 

He added: “Anyone who believes they may have been a victim of crime is encouraged to report the matter to their local/nearest Garda station. In an emergency situation, always dial 999/112.”