'People in fear and traumatised': Judiciary and gardaí must protect communities in midst of escalating attacks on city's northside, says Cork TD

A Cork TD has demanded a meeting with Justice Minister Helen McEntee and the head of policing in the city, Chief Superintendent Tom Myers, after a number of separate violent incidents across the city’s northside.

The call comes after a spate of unconnected violent occurrences across the northside of Cork in recent weeks.

Armed garda checkpoints have been set up across the city due to a series of violent incidents.

Saying that the recent incidents have left people “terrified in their own homes”, Sinn Féin TD for Cork North Central Thomas Gould has called for urgent action following what he called “another weekend of serious violence” across the northside.

Mr Gould said he had written to Ms McEntee and Mr Myers seeking an urgent meeting.

“I have been contacted by members of the community who agree that urgent action is needed.”

The northside TD denounced what he said had been an “escalating series of attacks” in the community.

Innocent

“At least one innocent person has been seriously injured, and I have spoken to others who are living in fear and are traumatised,” Mr Gould said.

“The minister for justice has no control over this situation in Cork. She has not visited Cork for many months despite this ongoing violence and disorder in our communities, and the reducing Garda numbers.”

The Sinn Féin TD said he knew of people who had been forced to sell their homes and move out of their communities because of the violence, and he knew others who were considering a similar move.

“People should not be terrorised out of their communities because of insufficient Garda responses. How many people have been arrested and put in front of the courts?” he asked, adding that he had “serious questions” about the sentencing of violent offenders.

“The judiciary and the gardaí must protect communities from these violent criminals and these incidents. The minister for justice must ensure this is happening. Communities deserve better, and I am disgusted that this has been allowed to escalate to this stage now.”

A Department of Justice spokesperson said because the incidents referenced are the subject of criminal investigations, it would be inappropriate to comment on them any further.

“However, the minister is confident that those who are responsible will be brought to justice by An Garda Síochána.”

They added that last year’s budget allocation to An Garda Síochána of over €2.35bn was the highest in the history of the State, representing a 25% increase since 2020.