asked the Minister for Justice what steps are being taken with regard to widespread illegal and violent activities in the Artane area and the Coolock-Raheny area, Dublin.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - North Dublin Crime.
35.
The Garda Síochána have investigated a number of crimes of housebreaking, larceny, malicious damage, assault, et cetera, committed in recent months in the areas referred to in the question. Their investigations are continuing.
In connection with these crimes, one juvenile has already been convicted and sentenced, another is on remand and several others will appear in court in due course. In view of the fact that these cases are still awaiting determination by the court, I would like to make it clear that what I have said is not intended to suggest that the crimes were the work of any single group or gang.
Apart from the investigations I have referred to, the areas in question are receiving considerable Garda attention.
Is the Minister aware that residents in the area could give him a list of names of a particular gang that have broken into churches, factories and, in fact, have thrown a bomb into a supermarket in the Coolock area? Here, again, it appears that the Coolock and Raheny Garda stations are undermanned and cannot follow up these cases. Some time ago two girls were attacked by this gang and there is also a drug incident involving this gang in the area. Is the Minister aware of this?
My information is that this is not an organised gang but a number of young people who come together from time to time. Some of those that the gardaí regard as the prime movers in some of these crimes have been arrested and charged. If the Deputy has any further information in relation to activities in the area, I would ask him to be good enough to give the names of the people he alleges are responsible.
There is a house in the area that is used by this group and this is well known to everybody in the area but the gardaí have not time to do all they would like. They are undermanned and this is the trouble.