Dublin's quays are under siege from unruly teenagers causing a range of anti-social behaviour issues, a business owner has said.
The city's top gardai will deliver a plan to tackle the problems to local politicians. Vandalism, graffiti, theft, assaults on staff and customers and damage to property are all part of the alleged problems faced by the community in the Grand Canal Dock area.
The groups of yobs run rampant during a good spell of weather and cause major problems for local traders and Dubliners just trying to go about their day. It comes at a time when crime and violence appears to be more prevalent in the city.
One fed up business owner has warned councillors that the aggression of the issues that emerge every summer have "escalated" this year.
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In one terrifying incident, the businessman claimed that a group of 10 or 15 youths "swarmed" a property and some of them kicked a tank of water off the roof which damaged the building.
The groups of "intimidating youths" regularly move through the area from Hanover Quay to Charlotte Quay across the lock. One group has been witnessed throwing buckets of water over regular folk just trying to pass by who can get stones thrown at them if they make a fuss about being soaked.
The business owner said: "These youths are intimidating, threatening, stealing, throwing heavy objects and will destroy everything that comes in their path.
"Right now, this is taking place completely unchecked. People living and working in the area are not able to cross Camden lock without fear of being assaulted.
"I watched a group hold up the entire Camden lock with buckets of water threatening all passers-by and soaking the unlucky. This then escalated with those being soaked looking for retribution.
"Then these youths resort to picking up rocks and firing them at the people they had soaked. This situation is not tenable and needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency."
Dublin City Council's Joint Policing Committee will hold a meeting to address the issues in Grand Canal Dock on June 23. Dublin Metropolitan Region Assistant Commissioner Angela Willis told council official's she will attend the emergency meeting along with Chief Superintendent Tony O’Donnell.
Independent Councillor Mannix Flynn said there are widespread issues with anti-social behaviour across the city which are unrelated to the events in the Grand Canal Dock area.
He said: "There was a lot of anti-social behaviour in the city yesterday. This is becoming a major problem for An Garda Siochana to deal with this unacceptable level of anti-social behaviour.
Cllr Flynn said there are a wide range of anti-social behaviour issues across the city which are caused by alcohol and drugs. He said: "You have ongoing assaults of An Garda Siochana.
"You have ram raids going on with people in stolen vehicles. This is all being underpinned by alcohol and drugs - that is what is going on.
"I was in St Stephen's Green and it was awash with drinking parties. They are bringing in slabs of alcohol from off licenses and sitting in a public park and drinking their faces off."
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