Courts / Dublin / Report

Dublin city communities 'no longer felt safe' after spate of violent incidents, senior garda tells murder trial

Date
2022-05-26

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

During a Central Criminal Court murder trial, a senior Garda officer testified that communities in Dublin's north inner city felt unsafe after a series of violent incidents from 2019 to 2021. The officer noted a dramatic rise in vehicle hijackings in 2020, including bicycles and e‑bikes, involving threats of violence. George Gonzaga Bento, a 36‑year‑old Brazilian, is charged with murdering 16‑year‑old Josh Dunne on 26 January 2021, and with producing a utility knife to intimidate others, as well as assaulting two other youths. Bento pleaded not guilty to all four counts. The trial also covered other local incidents, such as a fatal stabbing in the IFSC, a near‑fatal stabbing at Seville Place, and a hit‑and‑run that killed a Deliveroo cyclist in North Wall. The Garda officer highlighted community concerns, the lack of CCTV at some sites, and the police response to restore confidence in the area.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Dublin city communities 'no longer felt safe' after spate of violent incidents, senior garda tells murder trial. Charges or matters: murdering 16-year-old Josh Dunne at East Wall Road, East Wall on January 26, 2021; each of the four counts. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

January 26, 2021 Incident
August 2020 Incident
February 2019 Adjournment
January 26 Incident
2019 and 2021 Other
2022-05-26 Publication

Why: Supt Costello said there was concern in the community because of these incidents and that his attention was drawn to the targeting of food delivery drivers who felt unsafe in the course of their work. CNI source report