I wouldn’t let my 80-year-old mum walk down Cork street alone over city safety fears, admits top cop as crime rampant A Top crime detective said he wouldn’t allow his 80-year-old mother, his wife, or daughter to walk alone down one of Cork city’s main shopping streets at any time day or night because it’s not safe. A Garda who Speaks the Truth, well done Garda Padraig Harrington, Cork like Dublin is Not Safe? Now Helen McEntee, any Reply here??

The detective put the problem down to lack of numbers and cost-cutting measure Detective Garda Padraig Harrington said he does not believe the city is a safe place because of a lack of Garda policing units on the streets.He said: “I’ve been asked by local councillors did I think the city is safe?

“My answer to them was no. You have to ask yourself the question.

“My mother’s 80 years of age. Would I let her walk down Oliver Plunkett Street on her own? Absolutely no way would I allow her, especially on a Sunday.

He told PJ Coogan on 96FM Opinion Line: “But it’s any day of the week to be honest with you because of a lack of resources.I’m well known in the city and I get hassled if I’m walking down certain streets by addicts looking for money etc and it’s only when they realise who they’re asking they’ll kind of go sorry, sorry.

“That’s fine for me but it’s tough. They don’t know my mother, they don’t know my wife, they don’t know my daughter.

“I wouldn’t advise them to walk down on their own at any stage never mind say at night time because unfortunately we don’t have enough guards on the beat being seen by the people that are committing crime, begging etc.