asked the Minister for Justice if his attention has been drawn to a report (details supplied) complaining about the conduct of teenagers in certain Dublin streets; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Street Conduct of Dublin Teenagers.
22.
The report referred to in the Question consists of an anonymous letter on which I do not think it necessary to comment except to say that I am informed that the assaults which the anonymous writer claims to have witnessed have not been reported to the gardaí.
However, it is a fact that there has been a recent development whereby rival groups or gangs of young boys and girls have been congregating in the Grafton Street — St. Stephen's Green area on Sunday afternoons. Except on one occasion where some bottle-throwing took place, this has not, to the knowledge of the gardaí, led to any significant violence, though there has been unruly behaviour of a kind that would be liable to frighten other passers-by.
As a result of this development, Garda patrolling in the area has been intensified, with extra foot patrols and mobile patrols by various Garda units being provided. The Garda operation has been largely succesful, and the numbers of the young people involved have decreased considerably.
A more recent development has been that some of the same groups have taken to joining up with other demonstrations and to shouting slogans in line with those being used by the other demonstrators. As there are large numbers of people in that area on Sunday afternons, apart from the groups to whom I have referered, the situation requires careful handling. The gardaí will continue to pay close attention to it as long as that is necessary.
Does the Minister accept that even though the letter was anonymous there is substance in what it said?
The gardaí have no knowledge of the incidents alleged in the letter, which is an anonymous one. The general picture presented by the letter of serious disorder in the area and of no Garda presence is false. The gardaí say that skinheads, punk rockers, teddy boys and hell's angels have been frequenting the Dandelion Market area of St. Stephen's Green on Sunday afternons. I understand that gangs of 13 to 15 year olds run up and down Grafton Street for fun. Also present are members of the religious Hare Krishna sect who play drums, cymbals and so on. H-Block youth have held meetings at the top of Grafton Street on two recent Sundays and found following there from the group referred to as skinheads. I understand the youths march from St. Stephen's Green down Grafton Street to O'Connell Street chanting and shouting political slogans. The main Garda objective has been to separate the different factions in order to avoid serious disorder. Garda patrolling has been intensified with extra foot patrols, mobile patrols by the crime task force, traffic motor cycles and by the dog unit. The various groups move from place to place when requested and have not shown aggression to the gardaí. The result of the Garda operations has been a decrease in the number of youths attending in the areas mentioned, and the gardaí hope that when the Dandelion Market closes after Christmas, as is expected, this problem will be discontinued.
It will be transferred somewhere else.
I thank the Minister for a very comprehensive reply.