Crime

Dublin riot highlights serious gaps in our policing strategy

Without a fundamental change to Garda policy and leadership, last week’s violent disturbances could well be repeated

A Garda public order unit was deployed in the area around Parnell Square, Parnell Street and O'Connell Street. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

The knife attack in Dublin city centre on Thursday afternoon was unprecedented and horrible.

The riot that followed is an entirely different matter, however. There has been a pattern of gratuitous misbehaviour and protest over recent years carried out by people with few or no discernible aims.

The recent protests outside the Dáil were a classic example of this emerging phenomenon, but not the only one. At one such protest in September, mock gallows were ...