Stoneybatter Resident Meeting with local Gardaí, DCC, & community organisations
Public meeting with Community Gardaí
Following on from our meeting on July 1st between Stoneybatter residents and local community Gardaí, I am writing to inform you of our next meeting on
Monday 16th September at 8:30pm
Aughrim Street Scout Hall – 45a Ben Edair Road
In attendance will be Senior Gardaí from the Bridewell Garda Station and Senior officials from Dublin City Council. I have also extended invitations to local organisations operating in the areas of youth work, drug rehabilitation, human trafficking, and other community groups.
The background to the meeting on Sept. 16th is that for some time I have been aware of frustrations locally relating to safety, the level of policing and waste management in the area.
This led to the July 1st meeting, and on foot of that, a letter was co-signed by 60 residents to Superintendent O’Brien in the Bridewell Garda Station setting out key concerns about intimidation and anti-social behaviour, as well as concerns about illegal activities in certain hotspots, drug dealing, dangerous driving, the use of scrambler bikes and the lack of responsiveness from Gardaí to calls.
I met with Superintendent O’Brien and Inspector Hunt to deliver the letter and to discuss the issues raised. The Bridewell got six new Gardaí in July and I believe there is a real eagerness from Garda leadership there to work with local residents to ensure Stoneybatter feels safer and is safer for all residents.
While we heard distressing accounts from local residents at that meeting, it was agreed by all in attendance that this is an opportunity to act to make our communities safer for all who live in, work in and visit Stoneybatter and Smithfield. There is wonderful work being done in the area with the Stoneybatter Festival, the Stoneybatter Pride of Place and Smithfield Pride of Place, and there are so many other examples of our community working well together. But we need a community policing plan for our area, with greater Garda resources and a greater responsiveness and consideration to the needs of our community.
I hope you will join me, other public representatives, and residents on September 16th.
If there are any issues I can help with, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Yours Sincerely,
Marie