Calls to ‘take back Cork city centre’ spark heated debate on crime and public safety
Solidarity Cllr Brian McCarthy said the image of the city becoming more dangerous — that it’s awash with drugs and violence — is just not true. Picture: Larry Cummins
Parts of Cork city centre have become dangerous no-go areas, a meeting of Cork City Council was told, as councillors clashed over calls for new measures “to take back the city centre.”
Fianna Fáil Cllr Seán Martin led the calls at the May meeting of Cork City Council on Monday, with a motion urging the council to work with other government agencies and elected representatives to formulate a plan “to take back the city centre.”
He was accused of telling lies, sensationalising the problem, and damaging the city’s reputation, but he told councillors that two of his four children have been the victims of assault in the city, while a daughter of his witnessed a savage assault outside a nightclub.
He revealed his direct family experience after Solidarity Cllr Brian McCarthy said the image of the city becoming more dangerous — that it’s awash with drugs and violence — is just not true.
“Take back from who? It hasn’t been taken over by anyone. It’s not a no-go area for the public, or some lawless no man's land,” Mr McCarthy said.
“It’s not perfect. It has the same problems you find in a lot of cities of the same size – some crime, some theft, some substance abuse problems, some derelict buildings.”
One of the only councillors living in the city centre, Mr McCarthy said the only reason some people are afraid to visit town is because of “the lies being spun by councillors” in the council chamber and the media.
“This motion is the epitome of sensationalism,” he said.
Social Democrats Cllr Niamh O’Connor also expressed concern about the wording of Mr Martin’s motion and asked, “Who is the city being taken back from?”
“There has been a lot of talk about gardaí, and that’s important, but we really need to look at the causes of crime, and the social issues that cause people to be out on the streets,” she said.
But Mr Martin said his motion suggests that a range of issues beyond security need to be addressed, including dereliction, vacancy and retail strategies.
His party colleague, Colm Kelleher, said there is no point in tiptoeing around the issue.
“Certain parts of the city centre are a no-go area for people. My wife wouldn’t dream of into town at certain times in the evening,” he said.
“It’s not just a policing issue, it’s vacancy, dereliction, substance abuse, and traffic problems.”
Independent Ireland Cllr Noel O’Flynn said three women told him at the weekend that they are afraid to visit the city centre.
“They showed me a video of a person being kicked on the street, on one of our main streets, by two hooded assailants,” he said.
“That video is circulating on social media and people are getting the impression that Cork could be dangerous.” But Sinn Féin Cllr Joe Lynch said for the first time in a long time, he saw gardaí on the beat in the city over the weekend.
“It makes a difference when that visible policing presence is there,” he said.
Lord Mayor Cllr Dan Boyle insisted the city is safe.
“There are societal problems, a downturn in civility and a growth of intolerance,” he said.
“That not located in any geographical location. That’s not centred on Cork city centre. That’s just as likely to happen in a suburban location, and violence that people may come across is likely to happen in a family and home setting as it is in any city centre setting.
“We have to be careful that we don’t create an impression that ours is an unsafe city. It is not an unsafe city. In comparison to other cities, it is a good place to live.
“The indicators in recent years are going in the right direction. The right direction is being pointed towards. Our responsibility as a council is to look at the speed of that progress.”
Mr Martin was told that a dedicated city centre directorate has been established, and a number of initiatives are underway that will make a “positive difference,” with a Cork Futures Group being established to shape a city strategy and delivery programme.
The meeting was also told that a vacant kiosk on Grand Parade may be converted for use as a dedicated city centre Garda base following a motion from Fine Gael Cllr Damian Boylan. He said such a Garda base would replicate the successful presence of the Garda van in the city centre over Christmas, and serve as a point of contact for the public to report crime, seek assistance, and enhance the perception of safety in the city centre.
Officials said they will engage with An Garda Síochána to assess the feasibility of his proposal.
Meanwhile, Independent Cllr Albert Deasy has questioned the findings of an survey from last summer, which gave the impression that the city centre is a safe and secure place in which to live, shop, visit, and do business.
He said the survey is unrepresentative of the views of the citizens of the five electoral areas, many of whom, he said, avoid the city centre because of drug-taking, anti-social behaviour, violent disorder, rough sleeping, and a general air of threat and menace.
He called for a repeat of the survey, taking into account the views of citizens located in each of the five electoral areas, to determine whether or not they regularly visit the city centre — and if not, why not.
He was told the council plans to undertake city centre perception surveys from time to time, that its methodology will be informed by good practice, and that consideration will be given to identifying survey locations in the broader city.
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