JUSTICE MINISTER JIM O’Callaghan has pushed back on suggestions that Dublin is ‘unsafe’ following a number of attacks on Indian people in the capital in recent weeks. 

Speaking to reporters in Templemore today, O’Callaghan, who is 6ft5 in stature, said he feels safe walking around the capital city “any time of the day or night”.

When asked about the recent attacks and the perception that Dublin is unsafe, he responded:

“Obviously I met with the Indian community and I expressed to them my concern about some recent attacks upon them.

“I think it’s important to point out, however, that when you look at the latest crime statistics, that assaults on the person are down in terms of the first six months of this year from the first six months of last year.

“It’s also the case that there are more gardaí on the streets in Dublin,” O’Callaghan said. 

He added: “Listen, a large capital city is always going to have incidents of criminal behavior, but my own view is Dublin is getting safer.

“Like, I’m happy to walk around Dublin any time of the day or night, and I would like the message to go out to people that Dublin is a safe place to come into.” 

Earlier this month, the Indian embassy in Dublin was forced to issue a warning that there has been “an increase in the instances of physical attacks reported against Indian citizens in Ireland recently”.

O'Callaghan has previously described himself as a "very large person". Alamy Alamy

Meanwhile, India Day celebrations in the capital were also cancelled as a result of the attacks, while a number of protests have also been held in Dublin in response.

In the immediate weeks after the initial attacks were reported on, O’Callaghan faced criticism for a lack of action. 

Green Party councillor Feljin Jose told The Journal last week that it was “really disappointing” that the Minister for Justice had not commented on the attacks three weeks on from the initial vigil outside the Department of Justice in late July. 

Last week, O’Callaghan met with representatives of the Ireland India Council and the Federation of Indian Communities in Ireland and spoke afterwards of how he is concerned that the “majority” of the attacks appeared to have been carried out by young people. 

O’Callaghan remarked that “any attack against innocent members of the public is totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated”.

“Attacks on individuals because of their inherent characteristics, including race, are abhorrent to the values of our republic and are condemned by any right-thinking people,” he said at the time.

Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon has said that O’Callaghan remarks “show how far removed he is from the reality of life in our capital city”.

Gannon, who represents Dublin Central and is the party’s justice spokesperson, labelled O’Callaghan’s comments “tone-deaf”.

He added that the comments come “just days after a serious assault on an English tourist in Temple Bar”.

“The minister may well feel safe walking around – not only is he 6’5″ in height, but he also comes from one of the wealthiest constituencies in the country,” said Gannon.

Gannon added: “His is not the lived experience of everyone – certainly not members of the LGBT+ community who have been subjected to homophobic violence; the ethnic minorities who live in fear of racist attacks; nor the residents of inner city Dublin who have to cope with open drug dealing and anti-social behaviour on a daily basis.”

While Gannon welcomed the addition of more probationary gardaí in Dublin’s commercial district during the daytime, he added that “many people still don’t feel safe in the city centre at night”.

“We don’t need glib comments that sugarcoat crime levels in Dublin,” said Gannon.

“What we need is a Minister for Justice who will produce a coherent policing plan and face up to the reality that our city centre remains unsafe.”

Elsewhere, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris also spoke to reporters in Templemore today, at the attestation of 154 new gardaí.

He said the recent attacks are partly due to racism and partly a result of people being targeted because they are deemed vulnerable. 

“We’ve been engaged in a considerable outreach program now with the Indian community as well, so that when incidents happen, they are reported promptly, and then we’re able to mount investigations.”