There has been only one topic of conversation in the city this week — and that is the fall-out from the incidents that took place over a few days last weekend. Because individuals have appeared before the courts in relation to those events, I am precluded from commenting specifically on them. However, my points this week will be based on the generality of the decline of behaviour on the streets of our main cities and towns, and what we need to do to make sure they are the exception rather than the norm. There is a real fear that someone’s life may be lost, whether a participant or an innocent bystander, as some incidents spill over into the public domain.
Firstly, Galway has not turned into Sodom and Gomorrah overnight — although from the reaction you would think that to be the case. Galway is extremely safe and welcoming in the main, but it is not perfect…and it can be better. But it faces a challenge like never before. For some time now, the level of discourse and behaviour on our streets has been allowed to deteriorate and the tolerance of these incidents has been allowed to grow. The proliferation of these incidents has made people think twice about the safety of walking around in our city centre. I was inundated with letters this week from people expressing fears about allowing their children to come to town for a day, not because they will be attacked, but because there is a danger of being caught up in some drama — and there is lots of drama. Attacks on young men by young men in particular seem more commonplace, and many of these go unreported with the victims in a lot of cases, not keen to bring their attackers upon them. City stores are targeted by shoplifters; public spaces are taken by drunks and extremely organised and punctual panhandlers. Trust in a place is hard won, but so easily lost, and there are many people who will view Galway differently this week from what they thought last week. But Galway is little different from other big centres of population. However, we know it need not be like this.
This is why it is essential that we are seen to be doing something about it. Temple Bar has been flooded with officers since the furore over incidents there in the summer; Galway needs to have the sight of some officers to allay fears, and to deter misbehaviour. But it is not just a few officers walking around that’s needed. Some gardai should be based in a notable premises in the heart of the city, not down the far end of town at Mill Street or a mile out in the leafy suburbs of Renmore (to quote one of our letter writers this week ). There needs to be a place where citizens and visitors and the vulnerable know there will be a garda if needed. The absence of a police presence in the city centre is a carte blanche for thuggery. Based here in the square, we see everyday the stuff that goes on — the rows, fights, harassments, spats. It is a magnet for everyone who comes to the city. With so many differing motivations for their being there, it is to expected that it offers opportunity for people to prey on the vulnerable. Liam Mellows never knew that a tribute to him would be the gathering that surrounds him every day.
The belief is that the factors that have led to the growth in these street incidents have not dissipated and more resources are needed now. If true, it is disturbing that scarce garda personnel in Galway are being used to police the politically-sensitive areas of central Dublin. Robbing Peter to pay Paul is never an effective way to manage resources that are needed in the major population centres around the country. Chief Supt Gerry Roche however, is the man to have in our corner to sort out this situation and ensure it is the exception rather than the norm. There is no doubt that it is the ability of the Gardai in Galway that has prevented Galway from being a crime den. There are smaller towns that have bigger problems than Galway, but keeping it that way is the challenge, especially if our Garda resources are as stretched as they are.
I am not going to worry too much here about the bad publicity, the viral videos. That comes and goes. Priority has to be with the everyday lives of the people who use Galway day in, day out, and who have as a right the expectation that they can do so safely. More boots on the ground will make us all feel more confident.
