Sir, – Rosita Boland is absolutely correct in her article "Dublin's Liffey boardwalk: 'It could explode in a second'" (August 19th). Dublin City Council has allowed the situation on the boardwalk to get completely out of hand during the years since it was constructed. This is a fantastic amenity that should be able to be enjoyed by all, including families with children, tourists and anyone who wishes to stroll along it. This has been rendered impossible for years now due to inaction on behalf of the authorities concerned.
It now amazes me that the council proposes to construct a plaza in front of Trinity College once the Luas works are completed. A novel and welcome idea, but there is no doubt that the council will allow the same individuals who render the boardwalk a no-go area most of the time to take over this plaza in a similar fashion. Or perhaps they won’t, given that it will be located on the southside of Dublin.
Similarly, the Royal Canal towpath from the quays through North Strand, under Croke Park to Castleknock, has been abandoned and left to these same individuals to take over. I can safely cycle this route each morning to work (when there isn’t broken glass strewn everywhere) but wouldn’t dream of doing so when going home in the evening. A colleague of mine has rightly stated that if this was anywhere else in Europe, there would be cafes, stands and stalls along a similar section of water, but the authorities are quite happy to allow the status quo to continue. – Yours, etc,
PETER WHITE,
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Portmarnock,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – Rosita Boland's article and your editorial of August 21st clearly point out the difficulties being experienced by tourists in the city because of anti-social behaviour.
There is no doubt that excessive alcohol and drug consumption can lead to anti-social behaviour and this is clearly evident, especially to those working in the field of homelessness. There is, however, a sense that turning a blind eye to this type of behaviour or moving people on will solve the problem.
Everyone, not just tourists, are entitled to walk the streets free of intimidation or having to witness the appalling behaviour of some people. There is no doubt that policing is required but this alone will not deal with the problem. All of us in society have a role to play, and people need to know that as well as having rights they do too have responsibilities. This, however, can prove very challenging when dealing with people who may have enormous personal problems, often exacerbated by alcohol and other drugs. We need to cherish young people and ensure they are given the example and support they deserve at an early age, this to ensure they don’t see anti-social behaviour as glamorous and the norm. It is important that we deal with this problem with the seriousness it deserves, and deal with it now rather than putting it on the “long finger”. – Yours, etc,
ALICE LEAHY,
Director of Services,
Alice Leahy Trust,
Bride Road,
Dublin 8.
Sir, – Rosita Boland’s excellent article about the rampant lawlessness and vandalism on the Liffey boardwalk makes for shameful and alarming reading. How can the relevant authorities, Dublin City Council and the Garda especially, tolerate this ongoing situation where tourists, especially, are lured by the never-ending “Ireland of the Welcomes” palaver and can end up as unsuspecting victims of so much thuggery?
Your reporter records that in her many trips along the boardwalk, from end to end, she never saw a single uniformed Garda. Clearly a minimum requirement has to be constant uniformed Garda patrolling of this venue. – Yours, etc,
STEPHEN O’BYRNES,
Dublin 4.