Residents fear reprisals
By Aideen O’Flaherty
A COUNCILLOR has said that people in Tallaght are reluctant to report violent assaults and instances of intimidation to gardaí for fear of reprisals, reports Aideen O’Flaherty.
Sinn Féin councillor Louise Dunne has said that the levels of intimidation in the area have forced some people to stop their children from playing outside or in their back gardens.
Cllr Dunne told The Echo: “A lot of the people I deal with [who have been victims of intimidation] don’t want to go to the guards because of the issues they’re having – windows being put through, doors being kicked in.
“Things are going unreported because people are in fear of retaliation.
“We have a place where there are so many good people but a [bad] minority is causing all the good people to move out.”
Cllr Dunne added that she believes that these issues, which she has received an increased number of calls about in recent months, are as a consequence of austerity, when services and garda numbers were reduced.
“Most people are trying to work hard and raise their families – no family should have to live in fear and terror in their own home,” concluded Cllr Dunne.
A Garda spokesperson told The Echo: “We would urge anyone who is aware of a crime being committed or have information that can assist the gardaí in any investigation to contact the local gardaí in total confidence and with confidentiality.”
