Gangs of up to 40 youths are causing terror in Cork City, prompting calls for more police and Tusla involvement. Sinn Féin TD Thomas Gould highlighted two mass gatherings, one involving violent assault and another causing serious bike accident. He cited incidents where people have been beaten up in the middle of the day leading to ambulance callouts. Children as young as 10 and 11 were also getting involved in intimidation and anti-social behavior. Gould called for more police on the streets as a deterrent and increased support from Tusla and schools to prevent the situation from escalating. Chief Superintendent Thomas Myers agreed that Garda resources were limited, with not enough entering Garda training and too many quitting. However, crime statistics released by Cork City’s Joint Policing Committee showed that violent crime had decreased. Theft from shops, shop-lifting and threatening behavior increased with some shop owners fearing for their own and their staff’s safety due to theft and intimidation. Thefts of vehicles and bicycles also increased while public disorder offenses decreased. Drug offenses fell, but concerns were raised about open drug taking on the city’s streets. Some councilors called for the introduction of a mobile drug injection facility.
