Car burning in Finglas

dublin | environment | news report

Tuesday March 18, 2008 14:05

by FBS

Around 60 or 70 people rioted in Finglas in Dublin last night. Cars were burned and crashed into roadside barriers. A large force of police engaged in running battles with the rioters, and twelve people were arrested.

Local people allege that the riots were a "celebration" of the release from prison of a local criminal. Others have claimed that the easy availability of alcohol, coupled with the complete absence of any meaningful activities for youths in the area, were the cause of the trouble.

Some people have pointed out that affluence has led to bored young people with enough money to buy cheap booze and drugs. But other areas of the city never see incidents like this. Poor policing, lack of direction in local politics, and the loss of status for authority figures from the past such as priests and other community leaders (including the IRA) undoubtedly have a part to play in incidents like this.

The organised left-wing parties who used to represent communities like this, and would once have been to the forefront of community politics, have abandoned these areas to concentrate on issues much further from home. Drug dealers and petty criminals are the only exciting role models that a lot of young people have.

Supermarket in Finglas