Dublin Riots

Shane Coleman: No more excuses – we need to reclaim the streets of our capital

Parts of Dublin’s city centre have such an air of menace, it’s no wonder people regard them as ‘no-go’ areas

A bus on fire on O’Connell Street during the recent riots. ‘What is required immediately is far more vigorous, visible and proactive policing.’ Picture: PA

What is more frightening for society? Which should we be more concerned about: the extraordinary riots of last Thursday week? Or the more ‘normal’ or regular public order incidents that have become a daily feature of life in Dublin’s north inner city making it, for some people at least, a ‘no-go’ area?

It goes without saying that the riots were deeply shocking and dangerous. For a period of a few hours, control of our streets ...