COMMUNITY LEADERS HAVE called for increased garda presence in Dublin City centre after an attack near Temple Bar in Dublin left a man with such significant injuries that gardaí have not yet been able to identify the victim.

The man, whose age is unknown, is being treated at Beaumont Hospital, where he is understood to be in critical condition after the attack on Cope Street in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

It is understood that up to two men carried out the alleged assault, during which the victim was struck with an e-scooter.

The man sustained a number of injuries to his head and face during the attack, preventing gardaí from confirming his identity. To help identify the victim, gardaí issued details of a blue and white flag tattoo with the words ‘Ceol is Beatha’ on the man’s forearm.

Cope Street is home to several businesses and sees significant daily footfall due to its proximity to tourist hotspot Temple Bar.

The area falls under the Dublin Metropolitan Area garda region, which sees higher rates of attempts and threats relating to murder, assault and harassment than other regions, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

In 2024, 8,539 incidents of that nature were recorded in the area, a 9% increase compared with 2023. Latest statistics available from the CSO indicate the final 2025 figure will be higher than that in 2024. 8,844 incidents of that nature were recorded by quarter three of 2025, 433 more than the same time in the previous year.

The Chairperson of the Aston Quay and Temple Bar Business and Residents Alliance is calling for a greater garda presence to tackle anti-social behaviour in the area.

Stephen Kennedy, whose shop Copper + Straw has two branches in the city centre, told The Journal that the alliance wants to see more Garda on the street.

He also said anti-social behaviour often happens in Temple Bar’s “dark and dirty” back lanes which the public are often reluctant to use. The Alliance is calling on Dublin City Council to install improved lighting, CCTV, art and greenery in these areas, something Kennedy said will “act as a deterrent”. 

He said the concentration of emergency services in the city centre must also be reviewed. He said that although these services are vital, he believes a “more equitable distribution” would be more suitable for an “already volatile urban environment”. 

Despite the need for these changes, Kennedy said that since he opened his café on Aston Quay three years ago, he has seen a “noticeable improvement” in the safety of the area, something he puts down to a “new approach to public order policing” which has increased the number of garda on the street. 

‘Hostile atmosphere’

Local Independent Councillor Mannix Flynn said assaults of this nature “send fear through the entire city and entire community”. 

“It’s simply appalling that someone would be assaulted in that manner and left in such a catastrophic state,” he told The Journal.

Flynn called for more Garda visibility on the streets to prevent these incidents and the “hostile atmosphere” they create.

Fine Gael TD James Geoghegan also called for increased support for Gardaí.

“Dublin’s city centre must be safe. Gardaí need the resources and support to clamp down on this kind of violent thuggery,” he said in a post on X.

Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to the incident in Temple Bar to contact them.

Anyone who was in the area of Cope Street between midnight and 1:00am, and who may have any information about the incident is asked to contact investigating Gardaí. Anyone with camera footage (including mobile phone and dash-cam footage) is asked to make it available. 

Gardaí can be contacted at Pearse Street Garda Station on 01 666 9000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.

Dublin City Council, the Department of Justice and An Garda Síochána have been contacted for comment.