Gang murders – Dublin inner city community network demands urgent summit in call to Government

COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS in Dublin’s north inner city have called on Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald “for firm and urgent action to end this senseless cycle of violence” after the seventh murder on Tuesday in an ongoing feud between criminal gangs.

The Inner City Organisations Network, the North East Inner City Community Policing Forum, Young People At Risk group and the North Inner City Local Drugs Task Force came together to call on the Tánaiste and Justice Minister to convene a summit of all agencies and representatives to develop a sustained and long-term response “to the root causes of this crisis”.

The organisations said:

“We are calling on her to progress and further the many suggestions put to her and senior Garda officials at a recent meeting in this area with community representatives of the local networks.”

The local community activist groups added:

“We utterly condemn this appalling shooting, another murder on this summer morning, openly in the front square of a residential complex in the heart of our community.

“It is a tragedy for this young man’s family and friends. It is further trauma for an already frightened and vulnerable community.”

Calling for the Justice Minister for “firm and urgent action”, they said:

“This community should not be subjected to this sustained campaign of ruthless violence currently being experienced on these streets.

“We now demand that the Tánaiste convenes a summit of local community and civil society leaders, all local public representatives and senior officials of statutory agencies, Government departments and the local authority to collectively put in place a sustained and long-term response to the root causes of this crisis.”

Local Sinn Féin TD Mary Lou McDonald (pictured) said after Tuesday’s killing:

“There is no excuse for the fear inflicted on the people of the inner city by criminals who believe they can flout the law and put the lives of innocents in jeopardy.

“I urge anyone with information to come forward to An Garda Síochána.

“I repeat my call on the Government, on Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald, and the Garda Commissioner to bring forward a tailored plan for the north inner city. 

“A robust and resourced policing response and social and economic strategy is now urgent for these communities.”