Gangs intimidating old and vulnerable in Drimnagh and Inchicore ‘mobilise through social media’

Yesterday at 13:48

Anti-social behaviour in Dublin communities is being driven by “bullies mobilising through social media” to organise gatherings.

It has been claimed that “gangs of young people” in Inchicore and Drimnagh are harassing elderly and vulnerable people by recklessly riding bikes, motorbikes and escooters.

One local resident, who is a wheelchair user, complained of “a gang of teenage delinquents causing havoc” while “racing motorbikes at high speed” in the area.

He claims they’ve called him names such as “pervert and rapist”, and has reported these incidents to local gardaí.

He also told of two elderly women in the area who are afraid to go to the shops to get milk and bread and he wants something done before “a pensioner or disabled person gets killed or badly hurt”.

Politicians have said that “no one should feel intimidated in Drimnagh” and the issue requires a multi-agency response.

People Before Profit TD Brid Smith said she is aware of incidents of anti-social behaviour, but doesn’t believe the perpetrators “are all from Drimnagh or Inchicore”, as they use social media to organise gatherings.

The Dublin South-Central representative said scooters and motorised bikes require a political response, and more funding is needed in youth projects.

“The area attracts a lot of young people from outside via the Luas line. They often mobilise through social media,” she said.

“They are emboldened when they are in gangs, and it only takes one or two to bully and intimidate vulnerable people and/or people of colour.

“The reckless driving of scooters and motorised bikes is a universal problem with little or no regulation around the sale or purchase of these machines – something that requires a political response.

“Gangs of young people harassing others is very intimidating for anyone living in the community and it does require a response across all agencies.

“But I think we have to consider the roots of the problems and listen to youth workers and family resource workers for finding a solution.

“Many of them will tell you that cuts to a number of projects over the decades have been very harmful to the wider community.

“Youth workers and family resource workers need to be properly resourced to be able to make meaningful interventions with young people in our communities who are out of order.

“As well as highlighting the anti-social behaviour, we also need to highlight the anti-social cuts to local services and seek proper funding and resourcing in areas that are dealing with high levels of inequality,” she added.

Meanwhile, councillor Daithí Doolan, a local Drimnagh resident, said while more work is needed with “gardaí and youth services”, there’s “a lot of positive work going on”.

“Drimnagh and Inchicore are great communities. There is a lot of positive work going on with our young people,” he said.

“No one should feel intimidated in our area. Young, old and vulnerable should feel free to live, work and visit here. We need to work with the gardaí and youth services to make our communities safe and welcoming for everyone.

“It is essential that we have gardaí working with the community. This means taking gardaí from behind the desks and putting them back in the community where they belong.

“If anyone sees people being intimidated, then call the gardaí. It is essential that there is a prompt and positive response to these threats,” he added.

People Before Profit councillor, Hazel De Nortúin, said the issue of escooters needs to be looked at on “a wider scale”.

“There’s been an increase in concern around the use of escooters and young people congregating in the Drimnagh area over the past few years,” she said.

“With Inchicore, there were concerns around young people using the Luas to travel between Bluebell, Inchicore and Drimnagh because of the flow of access.”

According to the Department of Justice, “the Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities, including in Inchicore and Drimnagh”, and is determined to tackle anti-social behaviour and the causes of it.

“A number of priority actions are contained in the Programme for Government and Justice Plan 2023 to reduce anti-social behaviour and help people to feel safe in their local communities. These include:

setting up of expert forum on anti-social behaviour;expanding youth diversion to the 18–24-year-old age group;implementing the Youth Justice Strategy 2021 – 2017;criminalising adults who groom children into criminality;

• delivering a programme to tackle the misuse of scramblers and similar vehicles.

“The Anti-Social Behaviour Forum, which is chaired by Junior Minister [James] Browne, is developing measures which will address the factors which give rise to ASB and its impact on community morale and quality of life.

“Three subgroups have been established to consider knife crime, the misuse of scramblers and quad bikes, and responses to Anti-Social Behaviour impacts on housing complexes managed by Approved Housing Bodies.

“The scrambler sub-group developed a new initiative to support local projects to encourage young people in the legal and safe use of motorbikes.

“€190,000 was allocated to assist projects in 2022, with a further €190,000 allocated for 2023.

“Separately, the Minister for Transport, has introduced the Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023, which provides enhanced powers for An Garda Síochána to seize these types of vehicles if used in anti-social behaviour and related criminality.”