The Former Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr Mary Freehill, is recovering today after being knocked down in a mugging near her home in Rathmines at the weekend.
Ms Freehill was in conversation with a local resident at the corner of Ormond Road and Moyne Road when a man snatched her bag from her shoulder. The councillor and the woman whom she was talking with chased the thief to his car where they were knocked to the ground as it sped away.
"We had our hand on the door of the car when he took off with such a force we were thrown straight onto the ground. We have some very sore knees today." Ms Freehill said the incident highlighted the need for more gardaí on the beat.
In a swipe at the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, whose home in Ranelagh had security gates recently installed outside, she called for greater investment in "social capital" rather than personal security as a means of tackling crime.
"Local people are saying they don't see as many gardaí on the beat. The guy who mugged me would be less successful if there were more gardaí around," said the former Lord Mayor.
A Garda spokesman said a man was arrested in relation to the incident and was in custody in Crumlin Garda Station last night.
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