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Shane Coleman: It is high time for dirty, druggy Dublin city to clean up its act

Radical action is required to regenerate the centre of our capital – ideally a multi-agency approach to oversee its long-term social and economic regeneration

Dublin’s O’Connell Street: the centre of the capital is arguably the most neglected part of the country but An Post’s departure from the GPO offers an opportunity to transform it. Picture: Fergal Phillips

It was jaw-droppingly casual and routine in its execution. Standing at a Luas stop on a summer afternoon, smack bang in the centre of Dublin, a man approached the woman standing immediately beside us. There was warmth in the greeting between the two, but this was no social call. There was business to be done. Without any apparent concern about being seen or heard, tablets were handed over in return for cash. Smiles all around, ...