People feel they’re too busy to care in big cities

There was a dignified ceremony last week attended by 120 people for the funeral of the baby girl found dead in early May in a recycling centre in Co Wicklow.

The garda officers called her ‘Alannah’, meaning dearest child, and a white dove was released as they laid her to rest. It was all done with love and care and it showed the deep caring side of people.

In contrast, a young American tourist to Dublin was not helped by members of the public when he was suddenly assaulted and robbed on a city street when he simply asked what looked like a well dressed lady for directions. She and some others set upon him, leaving him bloodied and shocked. His mobile phone was robbed and he asked passers-by to please phone the police for him and they replied; “I can’t” or “I am very busy”. A local city shop came to his aid.

He said most people he met in Dublin were very kind, but he was surprised at people on the street who didn’t phone the gardaí for him. A city is big and anonymous, and sometimes people feel they can walk away from something bad happening that maybe, they wouldn’t do on a small town street. He got a good response, when he told his story on RTÉ radio’s Liveline with offers of free accommodation and free car rental.

Mary Sullivan

College Road

Cork