Reacting to a shooting in north Clondalkin, Workers’ Party representative David Gardiner has called for “more investment in our communities and more Gardaí on our streets who can effectively engage with our communities”. According to a Garda spokesperson, the shooting left a man with “serious but non-life threatening injuries.”

Gardiner continued, stating: “Not only can Gardaí prevent crime as it’s happening, but their visible presence on our streets and in our communities can act to deter would-be criminals.”

“With this in mind, I’m calling on An Garda Síochána and the Minister for Justice to ensure that we have adequate numbers of Gardaí available for that purpose.”

He said: “We must also accept that such acts do not occur in a vacuum. North Clondalkin is an area which has been robbed of facilities and services by corrupt politicians and dodgy developers for decades now. It is no surprise that crime is an issue.”

“We owe it to our young people to ensure that they are offered alternatives so that they don’t fall into criminality. In particular, access to education and to decent employment is vital for young people in working class communities.”

Concluding, Gardiner stated: “I strongly condemn this shooting and I would appeal to those involved in such criminality to cease their actions and to allow their communities to live in peace.”